Lots of cracks appearing!

[Min88]

Hello!

First time posting here but recently have become a bit obsessive over cracks and catastrophising! We have been here around 2 yrs 5 months, last owners had recently redecorated and plastered, left some walls with wood chip, possibly to disguise anything untoward! The cracks are confined mainly to the ceilings and where they must have previously redecorated, where I have recently redecorated cracks have also formed running along where the ceiling meets the wall, again these are hairline. The cracks literally run the length of the ceiling, they may change direction towards a ceiling light but always in a straight line.

the frame on the upstairs door does appear out and there is a gap between the frame and the adjacent wall, they did put in a toilet there so not sure if they changed things around at that point and that’s why but it doesn’t appear straight.

there is an external crack at the front going straight across the top of the downstairs window then appears to track up, which I am unsure if it’s just that the wall needs repointing?! A lot of the houses in the area have similar cracks outside. It’s an ex council house built in the 1950s.

Also the floor downstairs is concrete with bitumen on top and is slightly sagged in the middle but no changes since we’ve been here. The floorboards directly above this have also started squeaking quite a bit! can someone give me some advice on whether I need to consult a structural engineer?

Thank you so much have attached some pics

 

[Notch7]

It looks like a typical 1950s house, originally with crittall windows. Im not sure they had lintels so the brickwork couldve dropped above a bit.

I cant see the cracks inside being serious

 

[Min88]

Thank you for your swift reply Notch7. That’s good to know that it all looks within keeping for this age of house! Do you know if issues with concrete floors sagging slightly over time is also common with this era of house? The previous owners enlarged the room by removing an internal wall in the middle of the floor.

 

[KenGMac]

Min88, good evening.

Straight line cracking on ceilings will follow the line of the plasterboard panels fixed to the ceiling.

Built in the 50s there is a chance of the plasterboard being thinner than is general practice today, in the 50s the plasterboard was half the thickness that we expect today, as such it [the 50s stuff] is more prone to shrinking and cracking.NOT a referral to a Structural Engineer?

Same thing for the junction of wall and ceiling.

Must admit I am having some difficulty in spotting the external crack above the window? sorry about that.

Squeaky floors? loads on this site about that, just remember timber is a natural product and will and does expand and contract, all dependent on moisture and humidity inside the home.

Ken

 

[Min88]

Thank you so much KenGMac for your reply, all of this is very reassuring. Is it relatively normal then for this age of property to have a few misalignments and oddities, such as the doors being slightly out and the concrete floor with a slight dip? I was just associating all of this together with some cracks and thinking the worst!

From the First time house owner and general catastrophiser

 

[Notch7]

Thank you for your swift reply Notch7. That’s good to know that it all looks within keeping for this age of house! Do you know if issues with concrete floors sagging slightly over time is also common with this era of house? The previous owners enlarged the room by removing an internal wall in the middle of the floor.

I wouldnt say its common with that era of house, but a floor slab that drops is an indication of poor compaction and or shrinkable soil.

If the bedroom ceilings are cracking you might find the plasterboard has dropped a tad -have a look in the loft and see if youve a gap between joists and plasterboard.

 

[Min88]

Ah ok, I will check! Is this a cause for concern? It doesn’t appear to be getting worse in terms of the floor.

Thank you

 

[Notch7]

Ah ok, I will check! Is this a cause for concern? It doesn’t appear to be getting worse in terms of the floor.

Thank you

Not a concern, if the ceilings dropped it might need screwing up to pull it tight.

 

[Min88]

That’s good, will have a look into that tomorrow!

 

[Gossamer]

Some friends had an extension a couple of years ago, you should see the cracks in that! You can get a finger in.
For an old (ish) house it seems par for the course.