When is a crack more than a crack?

ST1991

Doing that typical thing of panicking/overthinking so bear that in mind.

Decided the give the bedroom a lick of paint on the weekend, and some of the wallpaper behind the chest of drawers was very loose so i tore it off (it was hanging off...) and behind it the plaster was... interesting.

Lots of cracks/holes that have been obviously patched up and the filler has come loose. Tapping on the plaster gives an array of noises - sounds as if it has blown and without too much pressure it does move (like a trampoline on the wall).

We had the same downstairs, but with some larger cracks... again patched up. Downstairs is going to be re-plastered in the summer next year, but, when should i be worried about cracks in plaster?

I have horrible dreams of the whole wall falling down. We've just bought the house, it's stone build and over 100 years old. Some damp throughout.

What size/shape crack should i worry about?
All of them?

Gloomendoom

If it's anything like my old stone house it will move about during the course of a year and cracks in the plaster are almost inevitable.

I had a full survey done when I bought it, two specialist subsidence surveys when my ex-wife panicked about the cracks, as well as two mortgage surveys.

All have dismissed the cracking as superficial and only requiring cosmetic repair.

ST1991

Gloomendoom wrote: »

If it's anything like my old stone house it will move about during the course of a year and cracks in the plaster are almost inevitable.

I had a full survey done when I bought it, two specialist subsidence surveys when my ex-wife panicked about the cracks, as well as two mortgage surveys.

All have dismissed the cracking as superficial and only requiring cosmetic repair.

You do not realise how much relief i just got reading your post!

We will get a specialist to check, but i'm glad it's not just me, at least! :T

Hoploz

Anything serious will normally be visible from both inside and outside, so if there's nothing to see outside its probably fine.

To answer the question 'when is a crack more than a crack' I'd say when you can get your finger into it.

parking_question_chap

Yes, most houses have cracks here or there, dont worry unless walls start moving or doors suddenly dont open or close.

arbrighton

We've just 'repaired' the crack in our bedroom plaster- it ran down where the two boards joined as the boards move since it's insulated board stuck directly onto the brick walls (old house, probable bodge).

There was a bit of bashing when we had the extension done and to be honest the whole house shakes every time a lorry goes past (several times each day!)

But the brickwork is fine

societys_child

I have horrible dreams of the whole wall falling down

Believe me, the plaster isn't holding your house up . . .

konark

Could you post a picture of your crack?

FreeBear

ST1991 wrote: »

Downstairs is going to be re-plastered in the summer next year, but, when should i be worried about cracks in plaster?

We've just bought the house, it's stone build and over 100 years old. Some damp throughout.

What ever you do, do not replaster using gypsum and/or cement - On solid stone walls, you should be using lime plaster as it is vapour permeable (breathable) and will allow moisture in the walls to escape.

If the walls outside have been rendered with cement and/or painted with a modern paint, it really needs stripping off before any further damage is done to the fabric of the building.

Lime plaster will suffer from minor cracks as the building moves, but it is generally nothing to worry about. Hollow sounding sections can generally be ignored, but areas that move need fixing - It is not always necessary to strip it back to brick. Loose plaster can sometimes be fixed by drilling a pattern of holes through, vacuuming out the dust, and then injecting an adhesive in. This can be an acrylic binder (https://www.lime.org.uk/primal.html), PVA, or even Liquid Nails. But not expanding foam (there is a reason it is often called bodging foam).

ST1991

FreeBear wrote: »

What ever you do, do not replaster using gypsum and/or cement - On solid stone walls, you should be using lime plaster as it is vapour permeable (breathable) and will allow moisture in the walls to escape.

If the walls outside have been rendered with cement and/or painted with a modern paint, it really needs stripping off before any further damage is done to the fabric of the building.

Lime plaster will suffer from minor cracks as the building moves, but it is generally nothing to worry about. Hollow sounding sections can generally be ignored, but areas that move need fixing - It is not always necessary to strip it back to brick. Loose plaster can sometimes be fixed by drilling a pattern of holes through, vacuuming out the dust, and then injecting an adhesive in. This can be an acrylic binder (https://www.lime.org.uk/primal.html), PVA, or even Liquid Nails. But not expanding foam (there is a reason it is often called bodging foam).

Thankyou for the tips on replastering!
We know the downstairs needs doing as there is some damp above the existing DPC (they think it has not gone up high enough) but since we moved in, stripped the wallpaper in the living room and aired the house out... it is not half as bad as we thought so have since decorated (cheaply) over the slightly damp plaster until we can afford to have it all done next summer.

Didn't think the upstairs needed doing as well... but i think it might do. We will repair some areas for now again until e can afford to have it all done.
Downstairs has been quoted £7K already so we're hoping to leave it as long as possible within reason!

We had a quote for a new DPC and replaster, and they did mention about a different type of plaster, although don't think it was lime? Perhaps it was! But i will bear that it mind. Thankyou

FreeBear

ST1991 wrote: »

We had a quote for a new DPC and replaster, and they did mention about a different type of plaster, although don't think it was lime? Perhaps it was! But i will bear that it mind. Thankyou

If you had a "free survey" done by a damp "specialist", they are nothing more than salesmen trying to sell you expensive treatments.

A lot of old properties do no need DPC injected/replaced as a layer of slate was often used just above ground level - If you have damp problems, look at the ground levels outside, and if need be, dig away some of the soil.

Don't be conned in to having waterproof screed & plaster applied to the lower one metre of the walls. All that will do is trap moisture in the walls, and when it freezes in the winter, the mortar & stone will disintegrate.

If you are OK doing DIY, lime plastering isn't too difficult, and is a lot more forgiving than gypsum plasters.

For advice on old properties, you might want to have a chat with the guys over at http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=1 - A lot of them are involved with listed buildings and have a good knowledge about traditional building methods.