Large crack around front door

[Fishlegs]

We moved into this house 3 years ago. We had a full structural survey as it’s over 100 years old.

Over the last few weeks a large crack has appeared in the plasterwork to the side of the front door in the hall, and a few chunks of plaster have fallen out. Then yesterday I noticed that there’s a big crack in the woodwork at the top of the door frame just outside the door, and the brickwork down the side (the same side that the plaster is coming away but on the outside) is coming away from the doorframe.

I’ve called a couple of builders this morning but they all say they are snowed under and can’t possibly come out to look at such a small job. Meanwhile I’m worried that the door frame will collapse!

Does anyone have any ideas who I should call next to come and assess the damage? Thanks

Here’s a couple of pics

Can you not call your home insurance? It's an emergency repair if it's dangerous

Thanks. Would they send someone out?

Ooh looks like someone may have tried to kick your door in?

Unless you slam it a lot?

I dont think your door frame has been correctly attached to the masonry work or its come loose over time. Its probably a take door off, remix frame with better fixings, maybe involving some epoxy type stuff, cant remember its name, rehang door, repair/replaster and fill in with either mortar or sealant round the door frame, finally repaint.
Not a major job, might be able to get a joiner or able handy man to do it

Re fix not remix

@mayblossominapril

I dont think your door frame has been correctly attached to the masonry work or its come loose over time. Its probably a take door off, remix frame with better fixings, maybe involving some epoxy type stuff, cant remember its name, rehang door, repair/replaster and fill in with either mortar or sealant round the door frame, finally repaint. Not a major job, might be able to get a joiner or able handy man to do it

Thanks @mayblossominapril that’s really helpful. I don’t like that door, this may be an excuse to get a new one

@ponkydonkey

Ooh looks like someone may have tried to kick your door in?

Unless you slam it a lot?

Nah I’ve got teenagers who slam doors a lot!

This seems like a question for @pigletJohn Hope I've got the spelling right. He's very knowledgeable about stuff like this!

It's from slamming. The frame will be screwed into the brickwork so it won't fall out. We had ours plastered over a few times then gave up and got a nicer front door.

I agree with ponkydonkey. That kind of crack doesn't usually apppear within such a short time.

I’m not very observant, it may have been there for ages.

the external brickwork looks builtto a good standard. I would have expected the original doorframe to have been built into the briclwork so that very little of it is visible from outside.

can you take a wide shot of the entire door and frame, shut, from inside and outside.

It is quite difficult to fit a replacement frame in the same way, so, if not original, it may not be so good.

I have teenagers too... the amount of doors in this house that are broken just like yours, that's how I knew 🤣

Thanks @PigletJohn I’ll take some more photos when it’s light tomorrow.

@ponkydonkey damn kids!

If it's the original front door I would keep it, but maybe that's just me!

if you're re-fixing it, you can use expanding foam, which is slightly resilient and cope with teenage daughters better. In some countries foam is used without screws, but you should use screws too.

I use the pink foam, which is the fire-resisting grade. You have to clean all dust, rubble and loose plaster out of the gap first, and moisten it with a water mister.

The gap will be visible when you pry off the arctitrave, and possibly chip off some plaster.

We had this around our front door. It turned out the door itself was slightly warped, so the door was striking the frame quite heavily each time it closed, and this was moving the frame each time. And they hadn't used flexible caulk around the frame, resulting in a crack. No matter how many times I filled it, it opened up again.

Until I had a new door (and frame) last year - no more cracks! And a door that closes smoothly and quietly....

What about mailing photos or emailling photos to builders with clear pics of the problem, if you send to several you'll maybe get the answer and quotes.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I’ve been in touch with a joiner who specialises in renovating front doors, he’s going to have a look at it and hopefully fix it and spruce it up at the same time.

good move. this would also be the time to update locks, hinges, bolts etc