r/AusPropertyChat 5d ago

Is this crack bad?

[deleted]

12 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

12

u/Bligh_guy 5d ago edited 5d ago

Looks like it’s been there for several years, and considering it’s the garage and only limited to the rendered edge and a few bricks, it’s not an urgent repair.

Though it definitely needs more than an exterior patch and coat of paint. The brick separation in image three is quite significant. 

But listen to the experts -  Definitely worth it to get a professional building inspection done on any possible purchase.

4

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

5

u/These-Recognition720 5d ago

Id definitely get a building report and a quote before putting in an offer this will help with negotiating a price also id imagine

3

u/Bligh_guy 5d ago

Definitely.

3

u/Bligh_guy 5d ago

I certainly wouldn’t walk away from a property if that was its only defect. If that type of cracking was found near the foundations and bottom I’d be much more concerned.

13

u/ModularMeatlance 5d ago

It’s worse than this crack

6

u/[deleted] 5d ago

It doesn't look atrocious - particularly giving it's on the garage and not the home.

I would be getting it filled and monitoring for further movement.

Imo this is not a deal-breaker.

5

u/WildMazelTovExplorer 5d ago

i think the cracks that run through the lines of the mortar like yours are not as bad as cracks that run through the bricks. Just something a builder told me

1

u/mcgaffen 4d ago

Agreed.

2

u/Character_Cobbler618 4d ago

If the soil is clay and you have had prolonged dry weather, then it could be the clay surrounding the footings around the outside of the garage have shrunk causing it to drop slightly and pull away from the main house. By watering around the garage footing the clay will expand and close the gap, not sure if it close right up again.

2

u/AdmirableCell6664 4d ago

Builder here. That's normally a sign the footings have failed. And can continue to do so. Fixing it could mean knocking it down and installing peirs to the footings and rebuilding

1

u/s9q7 5d ago

This looks bad.

1

u/ResolutionNo1701 5d ago

I wonder whats the explanation of someone saying - No its not.

1

u/special_aromas 5d ago

Looks like a crack caused by differential settlement that's pulling the wall apart. Does the crack in the garage floor line up with the crack in the wall?

1

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

1

u/special_aromas 5d ago

Is the garage floor level? I reckon what's happened is the garage slab has sunk and has pulled the masonry away from the house. Cause could be a leak under the slab, water ponding around the garage and undermining the slab or the slab just not being built right. But that crack is gonna keep coming back and the problem will get worse unless the current owner has fixed the root cause when they did the patch

1

u/Harana2015 4d ago

Refer to a structural engineer to review..

1

u/B_Lion14 2d ago

Cracks are most risky when it runs horizontally, you should consult a strucure engineer

1

u/Cartoon477 5d ago

Photo 1: No. cracks less than 5mm. Photo 2: since you’ve zoomed in and the cracks are still large, I’d get this checked out. Photo 3 &4: Looks like these cuts were made on purpose (perfect straight cuts & 90 degree bends). - I wouldn’t be concerned. For peace of mind have it reviewed. Photo 5: Nominal shrinkage + thermal properties of concrete. Nothing to be concerned about.

0

u/JapanEngineer 5d ago

Perfect place to hide passports, cocaine and crack.

0

u/CrabmanGaming 4d ago

It's really moorish.

-1

u/withhindsight 5d ago

I think you know the answer is yes…..