Cracks appeared in plaster! Floor sagging?

[Douche]

Hello,
My house is a 30 year old Wimpey no fines semi detached home.
Recently I have noticed a plaster crack has appeared along the edge of the stairway string, pretty much the full length of the string. Cracks have also appeared in the landing walls, where the stud walls meet the ceiling, and in the grout where the stairway header boxing tiling meets the floor tiling in the bathroom.It looks like the ceiling has separated from the walls by 1.5mm to 2mm. The stairs run up the party wall and the landing is central to the first floor.
Does this sound reasonable for a 30 year old house or does it sound like something that an expert should come to look at please?
Would central heating cause joists to dry out and expand or twist over the winter to a level that this effect occurs?

Thanks,
Douche!

 

[ibby]

Hello,
My house is a 30 year old Wimpey no fines semi detached home.
Recently I have noticed a plaster crack has appeared along the edge of the stairway string, pretty much the full length of the string. Cracks have also appeared in the landing walls, where the stud walls meet the ceiling, and in the grout where the stairway header boxing tiling meets the floor tiling in the bathroom.It looks like the ceiling has separated from the walls by 1.5mm to 2mm. The stairs run up the party wall and the landing is central to the first floor.
Does this sound reasonable for a 30 year old house or does it sound like something that an expert should come to look at please?
Would central heating cause joists to dry out and expand or twist over the winter to a level that this effect occurs?

Thanks,
Douche!

in 30 years i would have assumed that everything has dried out!

can you take a picture and post here?

 

[ibby]

//www.diynot.com/forums/buildi...l-wall-where-house-meets-archway-room.311032/

could be something like this,
Plaster board joints.

 

[jeds]

Sounds like cracking along the junction of adjoining materials. Very common in 30 yr old houses. Without seeing it, I'll bet it's nothing to worry about.

 

[^woody^]

It is a common occurrence in no-fine houses and other system built properties too, and relates to how the solid exterior walls and lightweight interior ones cope with heat and humidity. So it is normally down to thermal movement (ie shrinkage)

Its also common in cold winters when the heating is cranked up and also at spring time when heating patterns change again

If the movement is ongoing and cracks get to 10mm or so, then that is the time to investigate further