Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Walls cracking advice, Adelaide eastern suburbs 2Apr 11, 2016 9:42 am Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Walls cracking advice, Adelaide eastern suburbs 4Apr 13, 2016 7:29 pm Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Walls cracking advice, Adelaide eastern suburbs 6Apr 14, 2016 7:28 pm Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Walls cracking advice, Adelaide eastern suburbs 9Apr 18, 2016 6:14 am Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Walls cracking advice, Adelaide eastern suburbs 10Apr 18, 2016 7:39 am Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Walls cracking advice, Adelaide eastern suburbs 13Apr 18, 2016 7:50 pm Older buildings may have pitted water pipes with spray irrigating sub floor. Water pressure test may confirm or rule out drop of water pressure. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Walls cracking advice, Adelaide eastern suburbs 14May 21, 2016 6:57 pm StructuralBIMGuy Hi Les_step Thanks for the photos.. Just curious have you re-pointed the original mortar in any places with a stronger cement based mortar, I am guessing the original mortar was weaker lime based mortar? Generally the opposite is true. Mortar high in lime naturally re-hydrates sealing cracks in mortar. As its a 100 year old sandstone building it was probably made with a lime:sand mortar mix [L1:S3] See section 3.3.6 Lime http://thinkbrick.blob.core.windows.net ... asonry.pdf Housing today uses slabs and strip footing as non deflective beams supporting the entire wall. With wirecut bricks used with mortar mixes high in cement and now lower with lime there is little allowance for movement. Expansion joints generally take up the slack if there is any. Mortar cracking nowadays is rather permanent when it occurs as unfortunately most brickies now lay an M4 mortar mix. StructuralBIMGuy Anyway you are correct with underpinning I think you will find the original foundations are inadequate have you pulled up a portion of the paving to inspect below ground? As the cracking is weaving through the mortar around the rock from top to bottom, I'd ask what is your strip footing? I've seen 100yr old cottages with nothing but bluestone block slabs as footings. The pressed bricks moved over time separating from the bed joint and it had been repointed in the past to allow for the movement. In the SW side where the prevailing weather hit the house, moisture allowed gradual but constant hydration of the lime mortar giving less cracking than the NE side. Remember the original construction of a 100yr old cottage didn't have a driveway [no cars] so the ground will have more water on one side and less on the driveway side. This causes shrinkage and movement....so cracking can develop. Beautiful house...and good luck finding a cure. Being a builder is more than just having once held a hammer. It's about the trades you hire and ensuring that they give a result that meets the industry standard and the home owners expectations. 1 6559 10 15685 Thanks for your reply! We're definitely not after a small house Might still have a chat to them. Who did you end up building with if you don't mind me asking? 2 2570 |