My Newly Built House Wall CRACKED! I Need to Fix It NOW!
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2023
- In this gripping video, join me as I face a shocking revelation in my newly built house: a CRACKED wall that demands immediate attention! I delve into the root cause, explaining how thermal movement and the absence of expansion joints led to this distressing situation. As I traverse the building, I meticulously highlight the extent of the cracks and unveil the areas where expansion joints should have been incorporated. Prepare to be astounded as I expose the deceit of the bricklayers who assured me that expansion joints were unnecessary.
But fear not! I share invaluable insights on how to prevent such issues in your own construction projects, revealing the importance of utilizing bed reinforcement around windows and doors. As we move forward, brace yourself for an epic DIY repair journey. Witness my expert application of a stitching kit, armed with helicoil bars and chemical resin, to fortify and mend the cracks. Additionally, I disclose my ingenious plan to employ expanded metal lath for the forthcoming rendering process.
Don't miss this captivating video, where I navigate the trials of a cracked wall, educate you on crucial construction techniques, and embark on an exhilarating mission to restore my home to its former glory!
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About me:
I'm Aiden and I'm documenting what was supposed to be my barn conversion, which has now ended up being a new build. I don't have a trade, I just have a go and I'll be doing lots of work myself. This is the boring bit in grand designs that you don't get to see. Subscribe and follow along to find out how our future home turns out.
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contact email: aiden@acer-view.com 
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I may have missed it in the video but another issue I find with cracked bricks/blocks is the mortar has been made too strong. You want the mortar to be weaker than your bricks/blocks because if there is any movement then it cracks along your mortar joints which is a lot easier to sort out.
Similar problem I'm having. Cracks in blockwork (rendered) upper wall double storey extension, which is above a single storey extension.
Water pouring in through the ceiling in the single storey extension. Builder tried to say it was because I didn't paint the render, and now refusing to fix it under warranty.
It's because he didn't put in ANY expansion joints in either the blockwork or the render, which runs for 9 meters. Should have had at least one expansion joint.
Oh that's pretty sh*t 😑 did you have anything in the plans to say they should be put in? I think I'll end up being ok now I put the bars in as most of the other parts will be clad
@@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT Absolutely. Plans included clear instructions for expansion gaps at 6m intervals. He did put expansion gaps in correctly in some other areas, but forgot to accommodate the wall above the single storey extension (which was the most important one), so water ingress from outside has nowhere to go but in through the ceiling.
It's one of these things that takes a full cycle of the seasons to show the weaknesses in a build, which is why I insisted on a 2 year warranty. Apparently though, their warranty has hidden clauses, such as, "when we left, everything was spot on", so he's refusing to even admit he messed up.
I'm glad your remedial is working out, but I'm sure you didn't need the hassle or cost involved. We've all got other priorities, and I went for the most expensive quote thinking I was getting the best team, and made him well aware before the contract was signed that I didn't have the time to manage every detail.
I wish I could say that was their only big mistake, but unfortunately it's not. Much like your build, every trade who turned up dropped some absolute clangers. Most of the subcontractors he used were guys he'd never met before, which was something I only found out after they had started work.
Two of the subbies, I had to eventually refuse entry to, as they were clearly not up to standards required, either bringing in my own trusted trade or completing the work myself.
I spotted a load of mistakes while trades were on-site and managed to get them to correct these before I stopped hiring completely. However, there were so many mistakes overall, I didn't pick up on all of them, and now I've spent the past 19 months doing these corrections myself... and there are very very many.
The builder was in breach of contract during the build when he started selecting (inferior) alternative materials from those listed on plan without discussing it with me first (a non-exclusive contract clause), and now he's dodging the warranty claim. Alas, the solicitor is taking over that aspect now, while I crack on with the work in my spare time (which is very limited).
Please keep posting your efforts, as it's inspiring me on the days I'm not enjoying it. Cheers!
I'm impressed with your stoic handling of all the issues left by your builders...
What else can you do hey, I find it's best to focus on a solution rather than the problem 🙌
@@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT some would focus on telling the contractors off. If "being annoyed" is the problem then that would be a pretty good solution. But you are handling it like a champ.
As has been said already, concrete blocks should have joints every 6m, brickwork is every 9m. Also strength of mortar has been mentioned. What were mix proportions? I always specify 1:1:6, cement:lime:mortar. That should ensure mortar is weaker than masonry. Also concrete blockwork shrinks after manufacture as they are still drying and clay bricks expand as they take in moisture from the air.
Bricklayers should know this as well a creading ALL the notes on thecdrawings supplied to them.
Good work. I'm glad i came across this problem because im going to be building a full face brick house and all external walls are worked to whole brick dimensions so theres less random cuts.
My windows and doors are bound to fall on the perps lining up with the outer edges.
Do you think the metal lath is best used or do they do a proper fixing for face brick
Brilliant job Aiden
Thanks buddy 👍
Great to see you getting a shout out the other day 👍🏻
Thanks dude 👍 I'm in the crew 😉😂
I used similar ties over 20 years ago. Did the job and still does.
Awesome 😎 mine look to have done the trick too
Would look nice with larch cladding to dpc.
Nice belts n Braces. If not dot n dab inside I'd definitely mesh it probably fibre glass though as that stainless isn't cheap. Plus cracks in plaster are easy to fix compared to external render
Yeah I think I might run out of the stainless eml to use on the inside, although I'd rather spend a couple of hundred more on eml than have to mess about with cracking on the plaster work 😑
When you first mentioned it to the lads were they already a few courses up? I don’t get why they didn’t put a joint in ? It’s so easy to do. Also the first window you’re pointing out the lintel should really be bedded on a full block for good practise.
Aiden... I've the same sort of cracks on my house.... renderer didn't mesh where the old house joined the new part of the build... too late when all rendered and painted. nothing gone inside.. or at plinth level.... and as we are a clay area, depending how much rain and how the dry the ground is. the crack opens up or goes tight. :(
Ah that's interesting to know the inside is fine 👍
Similar issue on our extension, bricky didnt read the plans and i assumed they would, was meant to have expansion gap where it ties into the house with a flexible filler, instead its mortar and has cracked. Not sure i can much about it now but i may grind out the external (as much as i can) and fill with silicone.
Did they use a wall starter when they built it? I actually have a load of stainless steel slip things that were left over from the wall build which could have been used for the expansion gaps on the house. It's a shame I didn't use my original brickies 🤦
@@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT Yeah they did because I installed them to save them time 😂 just annoying they didn’t read the plans I just trusted them from the off and assumed they would. Lesson learnt I guess
On a side note. Have a bit of a tidy up session inside and out.
I know, I know, you hate tidying up, but you'll be pleased with yourself when it's done and it's good for your mental health and will give you a boost to continue on.
You could get a couple of friends or family to help out for a weekend clean-up, then reward yourself and them with some beer & BBQ 👍🏾💙
Haha If I don't like tidying up my own mess I can't imagine others would find it much fun 😂 I had to shuffle around jobs but you're right, a nice tidy site would improve my mood if I can get through it
Expansion joints in blockwork should be 6mtrs, that is a perimeter measure not per flank. Brickwork is usually 12mtrs, you can go uptown 15mtrs with no openings. Sounds strange but the more openings the closer the expansion joints as they are a weak spot, again perimeter measure not flank. Also any return less that 1mtr should have one in the corner.👍
Hey Dude ... With the walls locked in place with a helical bar .... will it not potentially force the building to crack elsewhere instead
I think that is potentially a problem. If you were to do this on a continuous wall (no windows) that had cracked due to lack of expansion joint I think it could move the crack to another location.....you wouldn't be fixing the problem, which was no expansion joint.
Aiden is strengthening around his windows, the weakest points.....so hopefully the expansion forces won't be enough to crack solid walls. On a long run of solid wall that gets full sun that gets cracking this wouldn't be a solution....it would just move the cracking.
I think Roger Bisby did a video on it.
PS this isn't really a structural issue, the house isn't gonna fall down. But it looks crap......hence why wood cladding for Aiden is a solution at the top.
Haha i literally just posted the same comment! Good to see the reply aswell, makes sense!
I did think there is a chance of that. I'm not sure it'll crack on the full wall as it's stronger there, so the only place left to crack would be in the middle under the window between the bars I've already put in. After all bed reinforcement goes across the whole thing and not near the collars. I might think about putting some more bars in though 🤔
I'm no expert, but if you prevent it cracking there with the stitching bars, will it not just crack along the next weakest point? I assumed you would have to retrofit a movement joint somehow (not sure if that is even possible). Anyway, great video very informative, thanks.
It's possible it might go in the middle of the window now....I might be getting some more bars though haha
@@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT - Great stuff. Your video is really helpful though. Seeing what works and what doesn't work is great. Keep it up!! Subscribed.
If there is a new crack midway under window then I'd be far less concerned, especially as the blocks were incorrectly staggered, numpties should've seen that two courses prior. As for inside, very unlikely to crack same way, as rooms won't experience the wide fluctuations as outside, unless you have bloody woman who likes 35c when you offer 8c 😂😂😂
@@christianwithers7335 🤣 with an air source heat pump and under floor heating 35c is seriously out of reach. She will have to be happy with another jumper 👀😆
Multi tool with flat (sacrificial) blade to remove the lumps of resin
I didn't think of that 👍 I could do with a cordless multitool though
Just my two cents ,very common with those blocks to crack near the windows . Had it myself on my extension what I built, but I should of used brick reinforcement under the windows. Mine never got any worse. Simple fix with heli bar with chemfix. Just my opinion, don't have render just have cladding. Thank me later .
Agreed.... Cladding without doubt 👍
Hummm 🤔 full cladding would probably work out cheaper...unless I learn to render 😂
@@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT unfortunately render looks nasty after a short period of time, cladding would look great for years.
Hi mate are you going to spray render system should be ok
Both of the plasterers I intended on using doesn't use spray render. If the mess about I might have to look into someone else that maybe does the spray render though
I’d just leave it as is, and put expansion beads in the render. It’s found where it wants to move, why fight it now. Also use sand cement lime render, NOT sand cement.
It's held up fine since I stitched it 😁 lime is a good shout
Hi, tbh the fault lies entirely with your Architect. The initial plans should have clearly indicated the need for expansion joints and where they needed to be installed. Professional contractors know this anyway and should have insisted on them. Can’t quite understand why they tied in the internal corners as it’s far easier for the Brickies to work in an expansion joint and build from profile to profile. A 15mm wooden baton keeps the joints straight.
It was on the plans but it's alongside loads of other information. I'm not sure it's the architects responsibility to highlight this specific thing, as all of the details are as important as this. I would have expected more from the brickies though, they have built plenty of houses so would have put in expansion joints on them, maybe they just got lazy. I even asked them about it out of curiosity and they mislead me. I've learnt to not trust most tradesman now as a result unfortunately.
@@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT if it was on the plans then of course the tradesmen are responsible in which case you have every right to ask them to come back and correct their mistakes. I’m guessing you paid out the retention once the project was completed.
Im sure you know this but the pull to comment was asked lol if you don't do the inside and it cracks you'll kick yourself harder than, if you do the inside and it still cracks at least you can say fuck it I did everything I could...
That's very true Ben. Oh man I'd really kick myself 🤣
Spend as much on footings as possible and this shouldn’t happen
This isn't anything to do with the foundations though
Belt and braces, do the inside.
I think I'll have a chat with my plasterer and see if he thinks I might be ok with just eml on the inside 🤔
It’s rare to require expansion gaps internally, my opinion is that these are cracks for another reason.
Id suspect it’s from Brickie’s banging the walls around to try and plumb them up when the mortar is semi dry. Thus causing poor adhesion to the blocks.
However for this reason a good idea to stitch them back together, you could batten and board the walls rather than dot and dab
Great video though, good to highlight things that go wrong.
Internal walls should not have the same temperature variations as outside. I once lived in a concrete slab and brick infill block of flats. Built in the 60's and no expansion across any of the long sides, no cracks. But bricks were engineering, so I suspect low expansion.
I'm guessing that from the nhbc recommendations that thermalite blocks are more susceptible to expansion and contraction due to the shorter run you can have with them (6m). I know that most new builds dot n dab to get away with it but as I'll be doing float and set then maybe my walls will be more likely to crack. I'm hoping mesh will help though. You're right though, the temperature range shouldn't be as extreme so hopefully that will mitigate any risk of further cracking 😬
Over thinking guys let the build settle while you do other stuff it will be ok
Most buildings crack because cement is so rigid
noticed this video a year old pls dont tell me you have you used sand and cement using your catchphrase it will look shit
Haha it's not done yet, will probably be another year before it is. What's wrong with sand and cement? I had my last place done in sand and cement and it looked great
Haha it's not done yet, will probably be another year before it is. What's wrong with sand and cement? I had my last place done in sand and cement and it looked great
@@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT yeah looks great in the dark lol once daylight hit come like a stevie wonder job
@@hewoguys2506 😂 it would if I did it myself. The plasterer I'd use is really good though. What's your preference?
@@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT anything but sand and cement that is things of the past next you will be telling me your doing larths with lime plaster lol gotta to move with the times