Hairline crack under beam - any concern?

movilogo

I liked a house. It was built in 1980s and later extended to the front.

The extension beam on ceiling is easily visible (across the kitchen ceiling and corridor ceiling). However, I noticed a vertical hairline crack under the beam (from ceiling, just under the beam to floor) in one corridor wall (ground floor).

Is it of any concern?

Of course, there will be survey, but I wonder whether it is just a cosmetic issue or a serious one.

SantaKlaus

any crack no matter how small means the beam has failed so will need replacing, i cant tell you how much work it will be it could be a simple job, but it also could be a lot of work to replace, depending on where the beam is, how long it has to be etc, get someone to have a look and give you a free quote.

Sometimes its easy, other times its hard e.g the wall would have to be taken out to get another beam in, you could be lucky to have a window in the right place so it can go through it. It all depends so get someone in to give you a free quote.

It could just be a case of taking roof tiles off and getting in that way so it could be a lot easier

CLAPTON

minor cracks occur in virtually every house of every age

hairline cracks could be due to plaster drying too quickly, slamming doors, initial settlement after the beam was installed

DaftyDuck

No idea whatsoever, and even photos may not help much. It most certainly does NOT mean the beam has failed.

If going to survey (sensible), write a note to surveyor and specifically highlight this as a point kf concern, and ask his opinion.

At a guess... hairline crack... only one... no problem whatsoever. Mind you, my guess for this week's lottery numbers may be no better!

G_M

SantaKlaus wrote: »

any crack no matter how small means the beam has failed so will need replacing,

This is scare-mongering and misleading.

There are many possible reasons for a crack and without seeing it, its size,location etc it is impossible to say.

It could well be totally harmless. 50p for some filler from B&Q!

Or it could be serious.

Impossible to say.

anselld

SantaKlaus wrote: »

any crack no matter how small means the beam has failed so will need replacing, i cant tell you how much work it will be it could be a simple job, but it also could be a lot of work to replace, depending on where the beam is, how long it has to be etc, get someone to have a look and give you a free quote.

Sometimes its easy, other times its hard e.g the wall would have to be taken out to get another beam in, you could be lucky to have a window in the right place so it can go through it. It all depends so get someone in to give you a free quote.

It could just be a case of taking roof tiles off and getting in that way so it could be a lot easier

Complete nonsense!
OP if you are worried get it checked out by a structural engineer (not a builder with vested interest in doing remedial work), however if your description (hairline) is accurate it is probably not a problem.

MFW_ASAP

As Kevin says on Grand Designs, "only worry about cracks that you can fit your hand into".

I'd fill the crack with flexible filler and paint. If the crack reappears then start thinking of getting someone in to look at it.

00ec25

another voice to say that "any crack no matter how small" is utter scaremongering nonsense

societys_child

SantaKlaus :rudolf: any crack no matter how small means the beam has failed so will need replacing

Ha ha brilliant:rotfl:Ha ha brilliant:rotfl:Ha ha brilliant:rotfl:

chris_m

SantaKlaus wrote: »

any crack no matter how small means the beam has failed so will need replacing,

Absolute cobblers. If you had taken the trouble to read the OP properly you'd have seen that the crack is NOT in the beam, but is running down the wall below it.

SantaKlaus

G_M wrote: »

This is scare-mongering and misleading.

There are many possible reasons for a crack and without seeing it, its size,location etc it is impossible to say.

It could well be totally harmless. 50p for some filler from B&Q!

Or it could be serious.

Impossible to say.

Any crack on a beam is a failure, a crack no matter how big or small makes the beam weaker, but a failure doesn't mean it will snap / collapse, to make that point they'll need someone to inspect, like i advised. So i stand by my point.