small hairline crack

dexterwolf

The kitchen window bay there is a hairline crack that you can only see when up close. The crack runs from the top left of the bay up to the ceiling. There are no signs of cracking externally in the brickwork by the window. It is solid wall with plaster that the crack is on. Is this something that is common with plaster walls by the window bays or should it be something that I need to get someone in to have a look at. Only just recently purchased the house so It may have been there for a while as I only noticed when putting up a blind on the window.

cyclonebri1

Scratch it out, fill and repaint, if it re-appears come back.

The only answers you will get are that it is a minor settlement crack, or a major repair job. Just depends on who you ask, and their motive.

So, cover over and check later.

Find me a house that doesn't have similar issues;);)

nickj_2

all houses have cracks in them at some time , all houses move , expand ,contract with heat and cold , 99 time out of 100 it's nowt to worry about

Gloomendoom

As above. It's a house, not a nuclear reactor so the odds are that it's nothing to worry about.

Is it serious?

Fortunately houses can tolerate very large amounts of movement before the damage threatens the structural stability. The BRE (Building Research Establishment) provide guidance on the cracking and its classification;

Category

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Classification

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Crack Width

Category 0---Negligible

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<0.1mm

Category 1---Very Slight

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0.1 – 2mm

Category 2---Slight

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>2 but <5mm

Category 3---Moderate

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>5 but <15mm

Category 4---Severe

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>15 but <25mm

Category 5---Very Severe

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>25mm

Source

-taff

Only worry if it's an old house with a brick built bay bottom and top and someone has put new windows in that won't take the load.....