Plastering & Rendering

Cracks appearing on outside walls of third floor flat

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.47 PM

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on understanding the severity (or not) of cracks that have appeared in several outside walls of my flat. The flat is the top floor flat, with a duplex room like a turret above and is about 16 years old. I have lived there for about 11 years. The top room (the turret, we call it) has a couple of fairly long cracks from the window frame across the lintel and up the outside wall. The room hasn't been decorated since I have lived there. In addition, there are some other cracks in a couple of the rooms, either right across the lintel of the window or, again, up from the top of the window. This part of the flat was decorated about five or six years ago. The block of flats is situated right on the corner of a busy junction close to the centre of Manchester, with lots of buses and lorries going past, and the flat shakes quite regularly when heavy vehicles go past at any speed. I have tapped the walls with my knuckles and for the most part they sound fine, although the two window lintels with the biggest cracks do sound hollow in places. My worry is that the cracks are being caused by the shaking of the building from the traffic. If this is the case, would I have a case for making a claim on the communal buildings insurance for the block of flats? The other question is whether that would be even worth it if the cracks are not that severe - they could probably be filled in and painted over but if they are caused by the traffic they will only reappear, and the cracks across the two lintels are also quite deep. Any advice or thoughts? I would post pictures but you don't seem to be able to. Ideally I would like someone to come and have a look and give me their advice.