Crack in garage wall

Have just had a new tenant move in who is concerned about a crack in the garage wall. Says that the wall is leaning forward and is concerned about it falling over.

Wants it to be either pulled down or a building inspector report to say it is safe.

This wall has been like this for years?? My options and responsibilities?

 

Is the wall plumb?

 

Not sure.

 

What kind of brick wall is it?

Brick veneer with a timber frame, double brick, single skin with engaged (joined) piers?

 

Since you have been made aware of it, if anything were to happen such as damage to the tenant’s property or injury or death, then you would likely be held responsible.
You should get an inspection to determine if safe, or needing repairs, or demolition.

 

YOU have not said that the wall is leaning forward
you said the tenant "says the wall is leaning forward "

You also said " The wall has been like this for years?? "


Your evasive answer " Not sure " if the wall is plumb
says a lot more than the two words you typed

Stop playing dumb , You posed the question .
You do know if the wall is leaning or not.
You just wont say it .
So is the wall leaning or is it not leaning ?


a building inspector will not sign anything .
You would need a structural certifier to write a 10 page report
9 of those pages would be he accepts no responsibility or liability
if anything happens

this is just simple problem solving .
The wall is either , straight or it is not straight
use your eyes and common sense .
Or get a spirit level or a plumb bob and check (measure )
how far the wall is out

measure or take photos of the crack as a record to see if it is getting bigger

 

Walls can lean and still be fine as long as they are within tolerances.

 

Provided the bond with the footing has not been broken, the centroid of the wall has not moved outside of the base of the wall etc

 

I'd first have a look at the wall and see how bad it is to the naked eye.

If the slant is not too obvious I'd then grab a 1200 mm spirit level and place it vertically against the wall to check plumb (You could use a plumb bob with string line if so desired). I think tolerance is about 4 mm per metre but I'd have to check.

If all is OK I'd then be tempted to whack tenant with spirit level (or plumb bob) for wasting my time lol. No, don't do that.

 

VBA Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2015> Page 28 diagram c and d.

http://www.vba.vic.gov.au/__data/as...63/Guide-to-Standards-and-Tolerances-2015.pdf

Some of the defects in this guide are cosmetic issues rather than structural (e.g. cracks in plaster) and I’m not sure in this case if the issue would be structural if outside these tolerances.

You would need an opinion from a structural engineer to be sure (doesn’t have to be complicated or long despite what Cowpat says).

 

Since its been reported, and I assume put into an email to yourself or the PM , I think you have no choice but to action it, and get a second opinion by someone that is qualified in that area.
Lots of houses develop cracks in walls over time with no problems, but saying that someone may have nudged it , or the pillar with a car at some point .

 

You have been warned of a possible danger.
Your responsibility is to check it is safe.

There are actually two issues.

One, the brickwork is cracked, which can mean anything from a hairline mark to a 2-3cm gap, or bigger.

Secondly, a wall is leaning. Again, this could be minor or alarming. Could be related to the crack, or completely separate.

Have a quick look yourself, then contact a building inspector if it appears minor, or a structural engineer if it is more concerning.

If one says it is safe, get it in writing.

Just don’t ignore the problem.
Marg

 

This would depend on some many factors ,if the wall is cored filled bricks blocks then once they break rust away at the base then the whole section will go over so I would be very carefull from the future legal side and you have had a valid warning and this problem if it goes over would kill a small child or anyone in it's path and fall range,and btw it sound like you have a tenant that understand their rights and who to complain too..Just follow the advice from above and start at the top with a structural engineer on Monday..imho..

 

You could have at least provided a photo to make this thread interesting....

 

Pic's or it isn't actually even a brick wall

 

It was cheaper to demolish the wall than to get all these reports. The wall ended up being demolished.

 

Between late on Saturday (time of posting) and Monday morning, you got quotes, evaluated options, and had time to demolish the wall? Wow, you are efficient.

 

Maybe it was demolished by the tenant leaning on it.

 

It fell over in the wind ?

Not all leaning walls are a bad thing.

 

Good to see my BS radar is tuned-in and on point