Hey everyone! My partner and I are in the midst of purchasing our first home and just got the building survey back. We're a bit concerned about a crack in the lintel that the surveyor mentioned. He suggested that cracks should be repaired quickly to prevent any water issues in the structure. The report recommended contacting a crack stitching specialist since the surveyor wasn't an expert in that area. Besides getting a specialist's opinion, I'm curious to know if anyone has thoughts on how serious this crack might be or whether it needs immediate replacement, as this could affect our offer on the house. Check out these pics to get a better look: [link1](https://imgur.com/a/VpbwyqT) [link2](https://imgur.com/a/PVRLyeu). Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
That crack looks concerning, especially since it's a shear crack due to the load. It's better to act fast on this. If you wait too long, it could lead to more significant damage like impacting the window or causing additional cracking in the wall. I'd definitely recommend hiring a mason to take a look and possibly replace the lintel because it doesn't seem like a complicated job right now. Better safe than sorry!
It sounds like you've got a potential issue on your hands. If the crack is from a steel lintel, there could be corrosion problems, and if it’s a concrete one, it might be a shear crack. Both are definitely repairable, but you should address it sooner rather than later to avoid bigger problems down the road. I'd recommend consulting with a masonry specialist to evaluate the situation.
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely consider getting a mason close by.