Cracks - minor or major?

sbird90

Hi

its me again, the crack finder (wait, that doesn’t sound right does it?) anyway we have decided to strip back our hallway (including the textured wallpaper on the ceiling) and have been presented with some more cracks which (if you’ve seen my other posts) sends dread into my soul (I suffer with extreme anxiety and cracks are what my brain is fixated on at the moment but gosh I hope it passes soon I’m making myself ill) 

so, I’ve included some photos to help. The one with the black line is the ceiling - it’s hard to pick up in the photo but is a little worse in person than it appears on the photos so I’ve drawn how long it is, it seems to start from the join of the “new” (1980s) part of the house is to the old (1930s) part (and there was potentially a door there in the past before the extension) 

the rest of them are all around door frames which when googled (I try not to I know I know) says subsidence. 

I’ve also included a photo of an area where the walls have blown so you can see what kind of plaster it is if that helps???

again, no idea if they’re new, I’m guessing not but who’s to know? and I’ve no idea if they’re getting worse because they’ve been hidden this whole time behind very thick wallpaper.

however on the “new” part of the house the plaster is great, doesn’t even need skimming can be painted but I have still noticed cracks around window and door frame in the “new” plaster (it’s still probs about 30 year old) would love some opinions? 
Got a plasterer coming soon to replaster it all but I know advice is to monitor cracks but I can’t if they’re getting plastered over so what should I do? Plaster and then wait to see if more cracks start or get someone out? 

(This last one of the ceiling)

Cracks in newer plaster 



Any advice would be great please  

Doozergirl

All houses move. 

That's the first thing you need to understand.  No house stands still.  The ground underneath us shifts constantly and houses are made of materials that expand, contract and breathe with the heat, cold and humidity. 

You will also get differential movement between the original house and any new extensions.  They are built totally differently and so they move differently with the seasons. 

You're looking at some limited movement around doorways and windows, which are the weakest points of a house - thise are the cracks stemming from corners.  You're also looking at original plaster which is really clinging on for dear life at this point, because it has dried out over the last 90 years.   The cracks that don't come from corners are blown plaster. 

The answer is quite simply that all houses move, yours is no different, it doesn't surprise me to see that with the age of the property at all.   If you re-plastered, you'd probably see no evidence of it for another goodness knows how many years.   

sbird90

Thank you. 

It was this one that scared me most as it’s rather large and in the “new” plaster although I appreciate 30 years isn’t very new haha


I’m glad you think it’s just limited movement I’m going to go ahead and get the plastering done and just keep an eye on things!

FreeBear

Agree with Doozergirl - These cracks are all relatively minor and to be expected with old lime plaster. I'd suggest putting some wide scrim tape (the mesh stuff) over the cracks and mixing some fibres in with the plaster - Your plasterer should be able to advice...

If he has never used fibres in plaster, he'll find it will go off quite a bit faster, so a pinch of retardant might be in order.

I've had a few walls replastered here (late 1920s house). Taped the cracks and used fibres, and have not had any cracks reappear.

sbird90

FreeBear said:

Agree with Doozergirl - These cracks are all relatively minor and to be expected with old lime plaster. I'd suggest putting some wide scrim tape (the mesh stuff) over the cracks and mixing some fibres in with the plaster - Your plasterer should be able to advice...

If he has never used fibres in plaster, he'll find it will go off quite a bit faster, so a pinch of retardant might be in order.

I've had a few walls replastered here (late 1920s house). Taped the cracks and used fibres, and have not had any cracks reappear.

Thanks! I have someone coming to give me a quote today so will mention that to him