Restoration & Refurbishment

Bay window movement, cracks in plaster

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.41 PM

Hi, I have a bungalow with single story rectangular bay windows, the roof forms a small gable end above the window. There is a cavity wall below the window sill and a single skin wall above the window (walls are soft brick and lime mortar (1930s)). Internally there are cracks in the plaster were the bay roof joins the internal ceiling and where the bay brick wall meets the main wall. The windows sit on the external brick skin, hence the internal brick skin just helps support the window sill. The main property foundations are approx 50 cm and the bay foundations are approx 40 cm. The original timber frame has been replaced by uPVC and there appears to be reinforced uPVC supports on either corner of the bay, across the top is wood, with an L shapped steel to support the triangular single skinned brick wall above. It looks like the external bay corner bricks have moved a little due to the weight through them. I want to replace the windows as the vacuum has gone in the glass and they look a bit rough, hence I was going to get a window fitter in, but not sure if they will be able to fix all the issues. From my understanding there needs to be spreader plate at the bottom of the reinforced uPVC supports, but since the inter cavity wall has cracks and this only carriers the window sill, therefore must be foundation movement? Which is a job for a builder to underpin or I do it myself? Any thoughts? Thanks Jas