New Build - Fixing Cracks

Magic_Dragon

Hi Everyone

We have lived in our new build property for 19 months now. There are some serious cracks where the plaster has come away from the skirting boards on the stairs. We also have minor cracks in some of the corners and cieling

What is the best way to go about fixing them? Is it a DIY job? My DP wants to just get someone in to do it! I am sure between and his handymand brother they could do it though!

Claire

ormus

these sort of settlement cracks are to be expected in a new build.
just fill with pollyfilla and paint over. simple enough. basic diy stuff.
99% of cases there should be no problems.
any large/wide cracks may need further investigation. check the brickwork outside for cracking.

Magic_Dragon

The ones on the stairways are almost 1 cm big - I can almost get my finger in them!

We are in a terraced house, and there doesnt seem to be any problems with the house in general - just bad cracks on the stairs

Floxxie

Speak to the builder. We had these and they added some extra beading to cover the gap and then redecorated the area. Some builders won't come back; ours were ok carrying out required works for up to 2 years after we moved in.

Saying that we have had further cracks reappear. I think that we may just have to get the hall stairs wallpapered eventually!

ormus

thats why you should never paper the walls for at least 2 yrs in a new build.
filla and some emulsion is much easier.

Forgetful

Saying thatThats the reason why u should not buy a majority of these new builds..

I see them put up loads of these new house and they all are basically a wooden shed and then bricks put around it and plater board on the inside.

Going back to years ago b4 we had double glazing put in , we had a wooden back door which we could never open in the winter and even if we did manage to get it opened we could never shut it, cos it had expanded by and inch.

What i am trying to say is that wood expands.........and shrinks.so how do the builders get away with building these house with just all wood....chip board in my view!!!

Went to have a look at a show house and all we could see in that new house was just cracks all over.


Certainly one to avoid....

ormus

its not just new build though. all houses have variuous materials which expand/contract at different rates. between the summer/winter all sorts can happen.
also the sub ground composition will make houses move or not, to a degree.
to a large degree in some cases!
older houses have an advantage in that the wood is usually better quality and the house/ground has stablised.
modern houses also use cheap wood (mostly softwood) that is not seasoned properly.

bathgatebuyer

Speak to the housebuilder in the first instance. Chances are they'll send someone round to do it for you just to keep good PR.

shaun40400

don't use fillers
buy a small bag of plaster or look for a plasterer working near buy and ask nicely for a small amount.
remove lose material with a dry paint brush, wet area down with plenty of water
mix in small amounts the same as pollyfiller ..over fill hole and let dry for a few days
will sand even very easally this is very good for small holes and cracks as well as big jobs paint with thind down emulsion 1st to seal it.
put spare plaster in plastic bag ;expel air and seal in in air tight tub(old paint pot) will last for years

Magic_Dragon

I spoke to builder many months agon when they done our ist of things to fix, and he bcasically said cracks where something to expect from a new build - chich we knew and accepted

Its a small local builder and not wimpy/barrat/belaway ect

The house took 15 months to build so was not chucked up in a matter of weeks!

My BIL keeps mentioning Builders Chaulk? Is that like a plaster?

neilmusgrove

Magic_Dragon wrote: »

My BIL keeps mentioning Builders Chaulk? Is that like a plaster?

It's Caulk and it's like a sealer for corners etc, imagine silicon sealer in the bathroom.