Hairline Cracks on newly plastered wall

mrseyes

Can someone please tell is it usual to have some small hairline cracks on the wall following plastering, skimming, and paint.

Some people tells me it is not unsual to have this problem due whislt some tells that it is not usual to get this problems.

ormus

most homes will have these to a greater or lesser extent. depends where you live and what kind of ground the house is on.
clay will dry out in summer and the house will move slightly. enough to cause small cracks in the plaster.
new homes esp, will settle over a period of a yr/s.

also doors/windows will stick in the winter (shrink in summer) due to the weather. they expand with the moisture content.

a house is constantly on the move, if only by mm. the materials dont expand/contract at the same rate.

cattie

In my experience most newly plastered/skimmed walls will develop hairline cracks once completely dried out. This is one of the reasons that it's not advisable to paint walls that have been newly plastered for 2 or so months.

misgrace

It does happen more often than not, and I really dont know the answer, it could be any of what cattie says, I dont think anyone rwally knows why.

How bad are the hairline cracks?, if you can just see a hairline, and you really have to look for it, then I would leave it, as the can stay like this years before they open up.
If your hairline crack has a jagged effect to it,and sort of splitting all the way down, then you would have to cut it open wider than it is, fill etc and repaint.

Was it a bonding plaster, then a skim on top, or just a skim plaster?
How long did you wait before you painted?
What paint did you use, and did you do a miscoat?

owls

depends on the background.you should get none on the wall its self ,but as previously mentioned you might get some where different backgrounds meet ie along door cases etc.

i often find if its in someones house,ive plastered a wall and when ive gone theyve put the heating on to aid it in drying out and the moisture is drawn out of the plasterwork to quickly it will crack. plaster should always be left to dry out naturaly.