Cracks in front bay window

[monniemae]

Does anyone have any experience of this? We have some small but growing cracks in our front bay, I definitely think it's sinking; it may be because of a massive, never-pruned tree that the council has neglected out front (we're in Lewisham borough).

I'm unsure what to do - call the insurance company? But potentially have our house stamped with SUBSIDENCE and also possibly have to pay it ourselves? Or just find a builder (who?) or some other kind of specialist to try and fix the problem? What kind of cost are we talking?!

Would appreciate any advice, feeling pretty stressed about it!

[esmeonline]

David Godden is likely to be able to help- builder specializing in structural work. Well recommended here on the forum and did a lot of good work for us. I think he has a surveyor he recommends if he thinks that's needed. You might get more responses / help if you post this in another section of the forum, lots of people will have been in your situation. Hope it's sorted quickly, good luck.

[intexasatthe moment]

monniemae - if it's any comfort ,my understanding is that although the house has foundations it's common for the bay not to . So over time the bay moves ,the house stays still and you get cracks . So not like the house subsiding ...

hope you get things sorted .

[monniemae]

Thanks both, will call David Godden

[se15mum]

Hi

We have spoken to David about some work we need doing. As he only focusses on the external repairs can anyone recommend anyone that could sort the inside out - plastering and filling of cracks

Thanks

[jennyh]

We had cracks which steadily crew and spread around the bay over a few weeks/couple of months. We immediately called the insurance company as we just didn't have the funds to cover any sort of structural work ourselves. It was clear from our cracks that it wasn't just a small amount of movement as it started to warp the windowsill. Anyway to cut a long story short, one subsidence claim later and we have a beautiful new bay and freshly painted house inside and out! We required various works which took around a week to complete. Cost us ?1000 excess otherwise would have been ?6k or thereabouts.

[*Bob*]

Obvs the case above is different, but you're right to be wary of rushing to call your insurance company over a crack which might only be seasonal movement and only in need of cosmetic repair (or possibly just leaving to see if it closes up again). Find a friendly structural engineer and get your own opinion.

Insurance companies can often be all too keen to register your call as a claim (even if it only turns out to be a minor issue) and then BOSH you're saddled with the excess premiums and subsidence history.

The cost of calling the structural engineer out for an opinion will probably be less than your first year's hike in premiums by going down the insurance route.

If it's only light repairs required, the cost of repair + redecoration won't be much more than the excess anyway.