Cracks in plaster

consumer done over · 12 Apr 2008

Hi,

Recently I've noticed some cracks in our plaster. See pics.

Are these just cosmetic cracks or can it be something more serious (ie. subsidence)?

We had the house rewired a couple of months ago and there was a lot of bashing but these cracks have appeared a few weeks later so I don't think this is the cause.

this is a 1930s house we bought 4 months ago. Surveyord did not pick up subsidence issues at the time but I've heard horror stories of things like these not picked up.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

stevebamford · 12 Apr 2008

Has it been recently skimmed (maybe just before it got sold ....?) - if so i guess this could be hiding nasties underneath ?

We've just bought a house and cracks are also appearing !

roughcaster · 12 Apr 2008

I'm with Steve. Tap along and around the cracked areas to hear if they sound hollow underneath.

Roughcaster.

Shytalkz · 14 Apr 2008

It's impossible to tell, as the photos don't give any real context as to where the cracks actually are.

consumer done over · 16 Apr 2008

Hi,

They are mostly near corners towards the ceiling. None have appeared at the bottom of the walls. Every wall has been chased in two months ago due to rewire.

Some do run diagonally which is what is worrying me. In places the plaster sounds hollow when tapped.

Similar cracks are on the plaster on the 1st floor as well. Again most of these walls have been chased.

stevebamford · 16 Apr 2008

Hi, I'm not a plasterer but have owned an older house for a few years. I'd be suspicious of the 'hollow' sound - i think this normally means the base plaster is 'blown' and coming off the walls

Our current house has exactly this issue in many places - am guessing we should strip all the plaster back to brick and start again. But too much expense and too much time

So actually we are going to leave it - and decorate very gently ! and not knock any nails into the walls (drill holes and use screw in fittings!)

Be careful if you do start investigating the cracks as its easy to start chipping away at bits, and you just keep chipping until you get to the brick anyway ! Been there - done that !

Of course it may not be that at all

If there are any ways to fix it without replastering i'd be very interested to hear it ....

Shytalkz · 16 Apr 2008

consumer done over said:
Hi,

They are mostly near corners towards the ceiling. None have appeared at the bottom of the walls. Every wall has been chased in two months ago due to rewire.

Some do run diagonally which is what is worrying me. In places the plaster sounds hollow when tapped.

Similar cracks are on the plaster on the 1st floor as well. Again most of these walls have been chased.

Age of house? Where in house?

Diagonals can be indicative of movement at foundation level, but there are other possible factors as well: could just be that the plaster was on its last legs and the chasing out elsewhere for the wiring and general banging and crashing has dislodged it sufficient for it to come loose. Use a pencil to mark the end of a few of the cracks and put the date on it, then check periodically. If they extend, then consider if it's worth getting someone in to have a look for you.

consumer done over · 16 Apr 2008

Shytalkz said:
consumer done over said:

Hi,

They are mostly near corners towards the ceiling. None have appeared at the bottom of the walls. Every wall has been chased in two months ago due to rewire.

Some do run diagonally which is what is worrying me. In places the plaster sounds hollow when tapped.

Similar cracks are on the plaster on the 1st floor as well. Again most of these walls have been chased.

Click to expand...

Age of house? Where in house?

Diagonals can be indicative of movement at foundation level, but there are other possible factors as well: could just be that the plaster was on its last legs and the chasing out elsewhere for the wiring and general banging and crashing has dislodged it sufficient for it to come loose. Use a pencil to mark the end of a few of the cracks and put the date on it, then check periodically. If they extend, then consider if it's worth getting someone in to have a look for you.

1930s

most walls where two walls join together. Mostly happens in top half of wall including internal load bearing wall.

Crack smaller than 1mm.

Sparks did not use angle grinder but hammer and bolster....

Plasterer sorted out chases. Could it be the new bonding pulling the old bonding?
Plaster is hollow near cracks, not hollow away from cracks

Shytalkz · 16 Apr 2008

I wouldn't have thought that they're following the line of the chases, looking at some of the positions. Is it old plaster that's been skimmed over?

Whatever, it's minor at the mo, mark and keep a weather eye on them would be my advice at this point in time.

Richard C · 16 Apr 2008

stevebamford said:
Our current house has exactly this issue in many places - am guessing we should strip all the plaster back to brick and start again. But too much expense and too much time

Be very careful with that one if you remove internal plaster to the extent there is less than 25% of the original remaining! If your LABC find out, you will have to upgrade the whole property to current regulations for thermal insulation (Part L) which, in most cases, will not be possible with a new float & skim alone; you will then have to install additional insulation to meet BR’s!

Shytalkz · 16 Apr 2008

It would take an extremely banal, overzealous, pedantic, insufferable, prescriptive, anally-retentive, up-his-own-arrse, tósser (feel free to add some more adjectives

) of a BCO to impose that one.

And, of course, such creatures do exist...

jbonding · 16 Apr 2008

i was thinking the same but might add, "up HER own arse"

stevebamford · 16 Apr 2008

Richard C said:
stevebamford said:

Our current house has exactly this issue in many places - am guessing we should strip all the plaster back to brick and start again. But too much expense and too much time

Click to expand...

Be very careful with that one if you remove internal plaster to the extent there is less than 25% of the original remaining! If your LABC find out, you will have to upgrade the whole property to current regulations for thermal insulation (Part L) which, in most cases, will not be possible with a new float & skim alone; you will then have to install additional insulation to meet BR’s!

yikes !

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Cracks in plaster

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