SE or no SE That is the question

[Peter Foxe Smothers]

Would you recommend a structural engineer based on this crack? The separation of the brick at the mortar joint was about 3 feet long. No other signs of settling..all doors and windows opened and closed good, no inside cracks at all, all the old caulk joints are intact & not separated, all trim is snug with no separations.

[Ted Allen]

Does the crack get bigger past the tree? Any deflection?

Any steel in there anywere near the crack?

Do you tie your left shoe first?

OK, I got nothing.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Is that a tree in the picture?

[Ted Allen]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Is that a tree in the picture?

After a close up detailed inspection of the object in question, I am positive that it must be something that may or may not be organic in nature.

[Dale Duffy]

Very nice

[ckratzer]

Get rid of the tree.It appears to be creating enough pressure on the brick veneer to crack the mortar joints.
A lot of people don't believe that trees and vines can do such damage...but...they can.

Its Brick veneer. In most cases when brick veneer is cracked, it can be remedied by a mason/bricklayer. I vote for "no SE".

[Peter Foxe Smothers]

They were bushes. Heres the reason I asked. I did the inspection. Noted it in the report to monitor for future movement. For whatever reason they sold the house 3 months later. The HI who did the inspection recommended they contact an SE. They called me. They called the SE and the SE said don't worry about it and I said told you so. Just wanted to see what you guys thought and if you would have recommended the SE.

THX!