The effects of cracking in the walls of one’s home can lead to serious concerns, sometimes justified but often the damage builds up in the mind of the onlooker. This is known as the phenomenon ‘Crack Watchers Syndrome’.

Identifying the causes of cracking can be complicated and sometimes confusing but symptoms must never be ignored. This fully illustrated talk made copious use of recent and current cases where the significance of the cracking was observed and discussed, with the audience invited to contribute to the debate.

Some neat and inexpensive methods of crack monitoring were also suggested together with various methods of repair, the advantages and disadvantages of various systems and the general premise illustrated that the least intervention is the most desirable route, wherever possible.

The best engineering solutions for the repair of historic buildings often revolve around ensuring the invisibility of the final result. If this is not possible then to make a clear and honest statement perhaps to include a temporary propping system if finance is not available or suitable resolution to the structural problem are immediately forthcoming.

P J STOW BSc MICE CEng

Patrick Stow is a Conservation structural engineer concerned with the investigation diagnosis and design of repair schemes for historic buildings.  Part-time consultant to Somerset County Council Historic Environment Service, Patrick Stow holds special responsibilities to provide an independent opinion to the relevant District Councils in the cases of difficult Listed Building Consent applications.

Viewed as the ‘Voice of the Building’, the professional approach is always to determine what the building actually requires and then endeavour to match the expectations of the relevant parties to suit, thereby often minimising or even avoiding unnecessary and perhaps expensive works.

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