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Hi all,
I have a crack in exterior brickwork which I believe is due to thermal expansion. See PHOTO..
I want to repair it (it 'bugs' me to see this!). Couple of questions;
- Is this a suitable DIY job? or better get a professional?
- How to stop the crack coming back after replacing the bricks and mortar?

That’s not a crack.
You are over thinking this.

Mike

London mike 61,
Hi Mike, sorry, the arrow is not too clear, I mean below the arrow, a vertical crack, inside the yellow circle.....

it would be unusual for a modern property to have settlement cracks as they are all built on at least 1 meter deep concrete footings depending on ground soil type. So it is an unusual crack and the cause is not readily apparent. Is it something to worry about, I am not sure. I would not try to fix it, just keep an eye on it. If it gets worse then your insurance company should be your first call and you do not want to give them an excuse not to touch it if you have tried to fill the cracks.

DWD

kany_man wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 11:55 am London mike 61,
Hi Mike, sorry, the arrow is not too clear, I mean below the arrow, a vertical crack, inside the yellow circle.....

Sorry , I misunderstood the photo.
You could install a crack movement gauge on the brickwork and keep an eye on any changes.

Mike

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 3:09 pm So it is an unusual crack and the cause is not readily apparent DWD

Thanks for your advice, makes sense. Assumed it was 'thermal movement'
as the surface shown faces west and gets the sun all afternoon.
Any other ideas what could have caused it?

London mike 61 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 6:10 pm Sorry , I misunderstood the photo.
You could install a crack movement gauge on the brickwork and keep an eye on any changes. Mike

No worries, it wasn't too clear. Thanks for the advice, sounds like its not a good idea to try to repair it.

It is a small thin verticle crack that seems confined to one area. This might hint at ordinary house settlement that occurs over time. That reduction in the wall run might have set some tension perhaps can you take a photo of that wall further back so we can get a better understanding of the structure which might give an idea. I take it you are not built over mine workings or unstable ground ? Perhaps tape some thin paper taughtly over the crack taped at either end (cover in plastic to keep it dry) if the paper splits it will show movement, I doubt it will.

DWD

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 7:37 pm can you take a photo of that wall further back so we can get a better understanding of the structure which might give an idea. DWD

sure can, again, below the yellow arrow. It starts just above the DPC and travels up through 12 courses of brick.
ps. thanks for the advice, really valuable...

I am wondering if there is a slight pull from that French door extension? There really is not anything obvious to me.

DWD

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 8:26 pm I am wondering if there is a slight pull from that French door extension? There really is not anything obvious to me.DWD

My 'theory' is that the French door extension is expanding and contracting and pulling the brick work of the rear wall into which it bonds (all built at the same time!).
This has caused bricks to crack.
My problem is, if I repair, then probably it will happen again (the replacement bricks will also crack!). How to avoid that, expansion joints?

I would not overfocus, these are all theories. I think you should stand easy for now and see what happens.If the crack stays like that then it is not a great worry if it gets worse it is an insurance claim. They would probably get a structural engineer in to inspect and give a view on any necessary remedial works. I do not think it is catastrophic.

DWD