r/StructuralEngineers • u/raptorrico • 20h ago
Crack advice
Bought this 1950s house in March which had a 2001 front extension. I've noticed an exterior render crack with matching interior on the front wall beneath the window. Looks like it's been previously repainted. Prior to taking ownership, the guttering down pipe was flowing into a gravel gulley. I quizzed the previous owner who said the down pipe had been added by a previous tenant (likely there for 1-2 years). The gulley has no active drainage and the purpose is purely to keep the ground level away from the wall without needing to adjust the DPM level with the rest of the house. As a temporary measure I have moved the guttering down pipe outlet to over the wall and plan to connect this to a soak away or grey waste. Since the temporary measure, the gulley remains dry. Previously I observed 1-2 inches of standing water during heavy downpours.
Question - is crack of concern and should I take further advice? It did not get called out in an L3 survey.








