Guardian Prize Crossword 29,572 Saturday...
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General Builder ...
27 Answers
... from the Yellow Pages / Thomson Local, or do I need some more specialist occupation ?
And how does one find one who is good, anyway ?
Not long after moving into my present home I noticed the wallpaper in the bathroom (in the fairly new extension) seemed not to be done particularly well. It looked as if someone had tried to hide adding a bit at the end by tearing the edge rather than cutting it, but it hadn't hidden the join that well.
But as time went on I became more convinced that it must be more than that. Since I have unfinished jobs already on the go (yeah I know) I have been reluctant to tear the paper off and start something else, but I'm fairly sure I'd find a crack underneath were I to do so.
I've been hoping this is just a bit of settlement and nothing to worry about but as time goes on I find it is a worrythat I ought to find out for sure about. Especially since now, to the side of the extension, some of the brick drive has sunk meaning it ought to be looked at too. (Dreading that, at a time I want to save up enough to get out of the rat race, I discover I have a massive bill or a massive reduction in house value, looming up on me.)
So, as per the title and bit at the top of the post. Do I need a specialist of some kind to look at it ? And if not, how to I avoid phoning a general builder only to be unaware it is someone who will draw a sharp breath and insist it is £50,000 worth of underpinning and stuff even if it is nothing to be concerned about ?
I'm particularly anxious about that as I had to get a plumber for a central heating issue not that long ago, tried the Trust a Trader site in order to get confidence, finally got someone to turn up, and his van showed he was a jack of all trades rather than a specialist plunber nly, and worse he was here for a bit, then gone again, then back again, then gone, needed a friend to look at the electrics, finally seemed to have sorted it, but a few days later the issue was back. I ended up writing the large cost of him off, and called in BG. I don’t need to go through that sort of stress again.
Advice gratefully received. TIA.
And how does one find one who is good, anyway ?
Not long after moving into my present home I noticed the wallpaper in the bathroom (in the fairly new extension) seemed not to be done particularly well. It looked as if someone had tried to hide adding a bit at the end by tearing the edge rather than cutting it, but it hadn't hidden the join that well.
But as time went on I became more convinced that it must be more than that. Since I have unfinished jobs already on the go (yeah I know) I have been reluctant to tear the paper off and start something else, but I'm fairly sure I'd find a crack underneath were I to do so.
I've been hoping this is just a bit of settlement and nothing to worry about but as time goes on I find it is a worrythat I ought to find out for sure about. Especially since now, to the side of the extension, some of the brick drive has sunk meaning it ought to be looked at too. (Dreading that, at a time I want to save up enough to get out of the rat race, I discover I have a massive bill or a massive reduction in house value, looming up on me.)
So, as per the title and bit at the top of the post. Do I need a specialist of some kind to look at it ? And if not, how to I avoid phoning a general builder only to be unaware it is someone who will draw a sharp breath and insist it is £50,000 worth of underpinning and stuff even if it is nothing to be concerned about ?
I'm particularly anxious about that as I had to get a plumber for a central heating issue not that long ago, tried the Trust a Trader site in order to get confidence, finally got someone to turn up, and his van showed he was a jack of all trades rather than a specialist plunber nly, and worse he was here for a bit, then gone again, then back again, then gone, needed a friend to look at the electrics, finally seemed to have sorted it, but a few days later the issue was back. I ended up writing the large cost of him off, and called in BG. I don’t need to go through that sort of stress again.
Advice gratefully received. TIA.
Answers
Brick drive ............ usually quite unconnected to the foundations, OG. Footings will be approx 1 metre down from ground level. Any sort of drive/path will be laid independentl
15:30 Tue 18th Feb 2014
Brick drive ............ usually quite unconnected to the foundations, OG. Footings will be approx 1 metre down from ground level. Any sort of drive/path will be laid independently of these.
Sounds as though the base for the drive was either not properly compacted, or possibly laid on subsoil or similar. Perhaps the rain has washed the bearing away to a point.
Either way, digging up and relaying is the only answer....... perhaps only the affected area.
Does the crack emanate from an opening, perhaps window or door?
If not, then "roof spread" is quite possible, particularly with a hipped roof. The detail of tieing hips into the main roof structure is very important. If that is suspected, then it really needs either a surveyor, or Structural Engineer to check it. If the roofspace is accessible, then an experienced builder would certainly know what to look for. He's not likely to charge you either.
Sounds as though the base for the drive was either not properly compacted, or possibly laid on subsoil or similar. Perhaps the rain has washed the bearing away to a point.
Either way, digging up and relaying is the only answer....... perhaps only the affected area.
Does the crack emanate from an opening, perhaps window or door?
If not, then "roof spread" is quite possible, particularly with a hipped roof. The detail of tieing hips into the main roof structure is very important. If that is suspected, then it really needs either a surveyor, or Structural Engineer to check it. If the roofspace is accessible, then an experienced builder would certainly know what to look for. He's not likely to charge you either.
No, the bathroom crack (or where I believe it to be judging from the wallpaper tear) is about 5 foot away from the back wall with the window and just over 2 foot from the wall dividing the bathroom and bedroom. It has no door nor window opening near.
Yes with a step ladder and a degree of fitness one can get into the roofspace. It's beginning to sound as if it may not be as bad as feared. So the question really boils down to which of the alternatives do I look to giving an opinion. Builder, structural engineer, or surveyor ?
If your best guess turns out to be correct. This roof spread. Any thoughts on a ball park figure for putting it right you'd care to suggest ? Not expecting to much accuracy but would we be looking at hundreds or thousands ?
Yes with a step ladder and a degree of fitness one can get into the roofspace. It's beginning to sound as if it may not be as bad as feared. So the question really boils down to which of the alternatives do I look to giving an opinion. Builder, structural engineer, or surveyor ?
If your best guess turns out to be correct. This roof spread. Any thoughts on a ball park figure for putting it right you'd care to suggest ? Not expecting to much accuracy but would we be looking at hundreds or thousands ?
I'm only guessing of course, without being there to see for myself, but roof spread is just a possibility to investigate.
I've come across this several times. It's rarely, if ever, dismantled and re-done. It's usually only necessary to prevent further movement.
Perhaps timber, or steel ties to "check" any further movement. Very simple operation costing a few hundred... certainly not thousands.
If you can find one, a sensible builder first, for an opinion. If he wants confirmation, then I would prefer a Structural Engineer to a Surveyor. I find them to be more "hands on" and practical.
I've come across this several times. It's rarely, if ever, dismantled and re-done. It's usually only necessary to prevent further movement.
Perhaps timber, or steel ties to "check" any further movement. Very simple operation costing a few hundred... certainly not thousands.
If you can find one, a sensible builder first, for an opinion. If he wants confirmation, then I would prefer a Structural Engineer to a Surveyor. I find them to be more "hands on" and practical.
-- answer removed --
Doubt if this update will be seen by many (any ?) but just in case someone Googles here and is interested wrt their own issues :
Finally got to call the builder. He came around, looked at it, and said it isn't roof spread, it's a good roof. Said that he can fix whatever is wrong but needs a structural engineer to say what the cause is.
I found a local one from https:/
She tells me that the footings are fine. The block walls rest on a brick layer near ground level and the cracks don't extend into them. All walls seem vertical and flat. No cracks near openings such as the door. Bathroom tiles & grouting look unaffected. Have it all a good look.
Says she believes the cracks are thermal cracks, and they can be filled when next decorating. The outside is probably best left to the builder to open & fill.
As a bonus I asked about the drive dropping near the wall. Says it is unconnected to the cracks, noted it is near the soil water pipe, in a dip (obviously) and that the water is likely to accumulate there and wash away bits. Should just need taking up, and redoing properly.
So that's a weight off my mind. I await the report (and the bill).
Finally got to call the builder. He came around, looked at it, and said it isn't roof spread, it's a good roof. Said that he can fix whatever is wrong but needs a structural engineer to say what the cause is.
I found a local one from https:/
She tells me that the footings are fine. The block walls rest on a brick layer near ground level and the cracks don't extend into them. All walls seem vertical and flat. No cracks near openings such as the door. Bathroom tiles & grouting look unaffected. Have it all a good look.
Says she believes the cracks are thermal cracks, and they can be filled when next decorating. The outside is probably best left to the builder to open & fill.
As a bonus I asked about the drive dropping near the wall. Says it is unconnected to the cracks, noted it is near the soil water pipe, in a dip (obviously) and that the water is likely to accumulate there and wash away bits. Should just need taking up, and redoing properly.
So that's a weight off my mind. I await the report (and the bill).
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