Crack down wall and skirting board- problem or not too bad?

WMS79

Hello
I’m about to purchase a property in a relatively new build development (about 4/5 years old) and on the viewings noticed this crack. It’s on an internal wall within the apartment, presume just a stud wall.

Does anyone know if this looks just normal & nothing to worry about, or more serious. 
I know internal home survey would pick it up but don’t want to get to that point if it’s obviously something wrong, that I’m not clued up on enough to spot.
Would appreciate any thoughts from anyone who may be a bit more knowledgable about thIs than me!
Thanks

neilmcl

There's either been some serious movement there or somebody's given the skirting a big enough whack with something to crack it with the crack travelling up into the plaster. What's on the other side of the wall?

twopenny

For the skirting to crack it would seem that the lower part of the  wall has moved in two directions with enough strength to pull seasoned wood fibres apart.

The question is 'why'?

Doozergirl

twopenny said:

For the skirting to crack it would seem that the lower part of the  wall has moved in two directions with enough strength to pull seasoned wood fibres apart.

The question is 'why'?

It could be MDF which would rip a bit more easily than wood across the grain, but the question definitely still remains.  It's not right.  

GDB2222

You do get shrinkage cracks in plasterboard walls at the joints, but I’ve never seen a skirting board cracked like that too. 

noitsnotme

I wonder if something has hit the other side of the wall, hard? Is there a body shaped indent in the plasterboard on the other side of the wall 😄

rob7475

If you look at the crack in the skirting board, it looks like it starts at a 45 degree angle. Usually when fitting skirting, you'd mitre the joints at 45 degrees if you need to join two lengths. That could suggest why the skirting has cracked but it would be a massive coincidence that the wall has cracked in the same place too. 
If you're getting a mortgage, you'll need a survey so that should pick it up. Your lender will then want a structural engineers report before they'll proceed I'd imagine. Don't let it put you off if you really like the apartment though - chances are it's something and nothing but better to be safe than sorry.

GDB2222

noitsnotme said:

I wonder if something has hit the other side of the wall, hard? Is there a body shaped indent in the plasterboard on the other side of the wall 😄

If you look closely at the photo, you can see a scuff mark on the floor just by the cracked bit of skirting. It’s possible that was caused by the skirting bulging outwards before it was pushed back.

 It might be worth asking the vendor about the crack. There might be a story about a drunken party.

WMS79

neilmcl said:

There's either been some serious movement there or somebody's given the skirting a big enough whack with something to crack it with the crack travelling up into the plaster. What's on the other side of the wall?

I don’t think anything just a hall way into a bedroom, didn’t notice any damage that side. Just this! Vendor says thought was just normal settling cracks in new builds and has the insurance for new builds that it would still come under if came to be a problem.

Homer_home

That crack is at the join of two skirting boards done with a proper mitred joint

What's happened is the skirting board has been glued onto the plasterboard and as the skirting board has shrunk like new skirting board  can do  it has pulled the plasterboard apart with it , hence the crack

That's the problem with modern glues/sealants/mastics there very strong

Bit of filler will sort that no problem