Cracks on walls

[philipb82]

Hello

I have noticed some hairline cracks on the walls in an upstairs bedroom. I have posted some pics.

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Should I be worried about them or is it just a matter of chipping out the cracks and re-filling it? Some of the others are alot smaller.

Sorry if there a bit hard to see.

Thanks

Phil

 

[roughcaster]

They don't look too bad from here,,, if that's the worst of the bunch, and the others a lot smaller, providing they're all sound enough, (not loose/hollow plaster) i'd rake them out carefuly, give them a damp down with a small paint brush, then mix up a powdered filler and fill them flush,, maybe do it in 2 coats if they're deep. Sand them down when they've dried out, then paint over 'em.
Gently tap around all the cracked areas first though, and see if it sounds hollow,, and also check there's no damp in the same areas.

 

[philipb82]

Thanks for your reply. So I should use filler rather than plaster?

Phil

 

[roughcaster]

You can use plaster,,,, but for smallish, thinner cracks, i'd use a powdered filler.

 

[philipb82]

I've just started to work on the cracks and the area affected does sound hollow. Could this have anything to do with it?

Phil

 

[roughcaster]

You could take all the loose and hollow sounding plaster off, and have it plastered/patched up Phillip, but it depends what you want. Is the hollow area large, and is it only around the 2 larger cracks?

 

[joe-90]

The best filler for these tiny cracks is from the Pound Shop called Crack Attack. Artex (used as a filler) is way better than pollyfilla too.

 

[philipb82]

I found that the area isn't hollow after chipping away at the plaster, maybe a thinner layer of plaster? Anyway I've filled them all up now and looks good!

Phil

 

[Richard C]

I found that the area isn't hollow after chipping away at the plaster, maybe a thinner layer of plaster? Anyway I've filled them all up now and looks good!

That's the finish skim blown around the crack; not unusual &, if that’s as far as it goes, you should be OK with filler. But if the base coat (underneath the thin layer) was also cracked, it could be that the brick/block wall underneath is also cracked. Either way you will , unfortunately, be seeing them again in the not too distant future but fingers crossed & see what happens.