Crack in the outer wall, mold - Renovate

Hello,

I recently removed old wooden panels from the wall and discovered a crack behind them. It runs from an electrical outlet up to the ceiling and is about 3 - 4 cm wide at the outlet, then narrows (to about 0.5 - 1 cm). Next to it, mold has formed. There is a draft through the crack (which is why the panels were removed).

A friendly mason has now inspected the crack and said it’s not that bad. Just fill it with construction foam and plaster over it. Somehow, I don’t have a good feeling about this and wanted to ask here for advice on how to deal with such a crack. It is an exterior wall.

I would like to attach a few pictures to this post. But unfortunately, it doesn’t really work...

Thank you very much in advance!

Best regards, Max

Edit: I just realized I’m in the wrong section here... [Bauschäden] certainly fits better. Could the topic be moved?

How old is the wall and what material is it made of? If there is a draft coming through the crack ... then it must also be visible from the outside, right?

How old is the wall and what material is it made of? If there is a draft through the crack ... then it should also be visible from the outside, right?

Year of construction 1952, I'm not so sure about the material... Well, I see bricks and clay. From the outside, you can also see the crack through the clinker bricks, but not as extreme as inside.
The picture thing is working now, unfortunately I don't have any from the outside. I can do that today after work.



It goes all the way up to the ceiling. Next to it you can see the mold. At the wide spot the draft comes through.

Kind regards
Max

I would hire a structural engineer to check the extent of the crack. As an exterior wall, this wall is a load-bearing element, so it is important for the continued stability of the house.

I would hire a structural engineer to check the extent of the crack. As an exterior wall, this wall is a load-bearing element, so it is important for the continued existence of the house.

That's a good idea! I'll have someone come by. Then I'll rather hold off on the construction foam for now.

Thank you very much for the answers!

Hello bemjou,

if you want to know whether wall parts are still moving, you can stick on a "Riss-Spion" or "Riss-Monitor" and take photos at regular intervals. However, you have to observe for several months up to 1 year – the less movement, the longer. If the crack moves strongly in one direction, you can save yourself the renovation; then you just have to wait until the movement settles or counteract it structurally right away.

Just google the terms as above, you will find it immediately and it is self-explanatory.

Best regards
Dirk Grafe