Conservatory coming away from house bought 3 months ago.

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Dutch85

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We bought the house 3 months ago.I only noticed the crack today. Had a home buyers report from a surveyor, nothing mentioned in regards to any issues with the conservatory.

Not sure who I should approach on this? Contact the surveyor? Home insurance? Next door neighbour has a conifer tree about 4 foot away from our conservatory - could this cause issues? If so would the neighbour be liable to cover the work required?

Any pointers appreciated. I'm a first time buyer and never been in this position before.
 

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What would the repercussions be if its classed as subsidence? Sky high insurance going forward?
 
Is the property on clay soil? That shrinks if it dries out.
 
Were they there when you moved in and you just didn't notice at the time, has it moved since you moved in, how old is the house, how long has the conservatory been there?
 
Don't worry about it at this stage.

Any conservatory or extension can move, and move seasonally independently to the house.

Monitor it over several seasons, one year, and see if it closes back up. You should only worry if the gap keeps on getting wider - when you can get your little finger in it.

However, you may want to seal the gap externally to keep the weather out, and internally if you like for aesthetics. If you do, just have some method of recording and checking for any future movement.
 
Judging by the the corner, I’d guess it’s a bay ended connie, sometimes called Victorian style - not as popular these days so the conservatory could be quite a few years old.

The base looks well built - proper squint bricks at corners, engineering bricks below DPC, brickwork and pointing looks ok. My guess is it’s differential movement between house and conservatory - pretty common as they are built on different foundations.

It has been pretty dry for a few months….maybe after we get a month of rain it might close up. I knew somebody who watered the ground as he reckoned it stopped his conservatory….no idea if true or not!
 
I agree with @Notch7 - it looks well constructed. I wouldn't worry about it. I would fill the gaps and get on with your life. It may move a little more, it may not, it may come back up, but whatever, it's a conservatory that has been tacked on to the house, and differential movement is common.

Being a first time buyer, I know how worrying every little "fault" can be, but (almost) every house has some sort of minor issue. Certainly don't contact insurers, because you'll just end up with more hassle.

All trees can suck some moisture out the ground, but conifers are not the worst. They tend to be fairly shallow rooted. Far worse are oak, lime, sycamore, poplar etc - the big broad leafed trees, and never plant willow near a house - the roots will invade the drains...
 
freddiemercurystwin said:
Were they there when you moved in and you just didn't notice at the time, has it moved since you moved in, how old is the house, how long has the conservatory been there?
Click to expand...
I checked a video I had recorded of the house prior to completion and there isn't any obvious sign of the interior crack. I can't say for 100% there wasn't cracks, if there was, they'd have not yet visible to the naked eye from distance. House is mid 90s and I believe conservatory is about 15 years old.
 
^woody^ said:
Don't worry about it at this stage.

Any conservatory or extension can move, and move seasonally independently to the house.

Monitor it over several seasons, one year, and see if it closes back up. You should only worry if the gap keeps on getting wider - when you can get your little finger in it.

However, you may want to seal the gap externally to keep the weather out, and internally if you like for aesthetics. If you do, just have some method of recording and checking for any future movement.
Click to expand...
Have read somewhere that it's not advisible to seal gaps in case the crack was a result of the hot weather drying the ground out. The gap could close up once we've had a good amount of rain and do more damage? As you say, part of me feels it should be sealed up as water ingress could present other problems?

What would you suggest is best to seal the outside?
 
Dutch85 said:
Have read somewhere that it's not advisible to seal gaps in case the crack was a result of the hot weather drying the ground out. The gap could close up once we've had a good amount of rain and do more damage? As you say, part of me feels it should be sealed up as water ingress could present other problems?

What would you suggest is best to seal the outside?
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All gaps should be sealed

All gaps like that are sealed with a flexible mastic, so it don't matter (within reason) if the structure moves one way or the other.

Larger gaps can can be covered with a cover strip - D strip, flat strip or quadrant bead or suchlike.
 
^woody^ said:
It's suitable but not advisable for your purpose. It will just stick out and look horrid.

As this would be just a temporary repair whilst you determine what is going on, consider a clear mastic for the wall, and white for the frame. Polymer or silicone product.
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Thanks.
Does this look like it'll do the trick?
www.screwfix.com

No Nonsense Builders Silicone Clear 310ml - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Low modulus, one-component, neutral cure construction silicone used for perimeter pointing around all types of frames, brick, stone, concrete and cap beading. Ideal for sealing building joints and glazing systems. Fungal-resistant, weatherproof and UV-resistant...
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