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Thread: Cracked wall

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
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    IL
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    Default Cracked wall

    Should I worry about this crack? What is causing this wall to crack like this ??

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    Last edited by Aga Lakomy; 08-19-2014 at 06:42 PM. Reason: image change
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
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    Lansdale, PA
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    Default Re: Cracked wall

    I cannot make out what is at the right side of the photo, but it looks like the cracks starts at a corner. These are usually stress cracks that occur due to lumber shrinkage of deflection (sagging) of floors. At that size I would not typically be concerned. If it increases in size significantly, then it may be a concern.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Connecticut
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    Default Re: Cracked wall

    Nice picture!
    Kitchen behind yes?
    Bearing wall opened up with no header installed?
    You must learn to photo document. Wide angle and close up
    Picture should tell the story
    You are the narrator


  4. #4
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    Dec 2013
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    IL
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    Default Re: Cracked wall

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller View Post
    I cannot make out what is at the right side of the photo, but it looks like the cracks starts at a corner. These are usually stress cracks that occur due to lumber shrinkage of deflection (sagging) of floors. At that size I would not typically be concerned. If it increases in size significantly, then it may be a concern.
    Thank you for your post.

    I have reloaded the images. The other image is the same wall but from kitchen side. Is there a way to stop this?

    Agnes


  5. #5
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    Mar 2012
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    Lansdale, PA
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    876

    Default Re: Cracked wall

    These images are better. They do look a bit worse than the first image. My level of concern would be about the same as in my last post if the cracks have been there for a while and have not grown much. If these are new cracks I would be looking closer for a cause. If this is above a crawl space look for damaged or deteriorated floor joists or beams, or very wet conditions.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: Cracked wall

    Check for support directly below that door frame. The wall has shifted downwards since the last time the wall was painted. The drywall seam on the red wall is an amateur patch from the look of it, which is now cracked maybe for the second time.
    So yes it is a concern, until you determine why it happened.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Western Montana
    Posts
    261

    Default Re: Cracked wall

    I would be a little more concerned about the first, horizontal crack than the other one. The second vertical crack is slight settlement taking advantage of where there is probably a joint between two sheets of drywall.
    It also depends somewhat if I see other cracks in other places, any pattern to the location of the cracks, age of home, what is the underlying structure (slab, basement, crawlspace??). Can you see it on both sides of the wall? Were there any additions to the home? Humidity levels? Soil type?


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    FL, TX
    Posts
    146

    Default Re: Cracked wall

    Quote Originally Posted by Aga Lakomy View Post
    Should I worry about this crack? What is causing this wall to crack like this ??
    Aga
    There is much too little known from a picture such as this. If the soils are a class of clay that is highly expansive then this could be normal and acceptable for a given location and foundation type, etc..
    If the soils are sandy and well compacted then it would not be normal, depending upon foundation type. If it is a slab, then something could be wrong with structure or foundation. If it has a crawl space and piers with extremely sandy soil, the there could be settlement at the piers and levelling of the piers might be required.

    I have even found houses with major sttuctural issues that had cracks such as this as the only indicator. Wood rot and termits could even be a cause. In Florida we even see this as a possible sign of sink hole or major soil shifting, espeically if it appears suddenly.

    I could go on and on with the possibilities. You need to find out what is causing it, a patch and paint will not stop it from happening again and depending on the cause you may be able to effect proper permanent repair or it may be "the way it is" for the build and conditions.


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Florida
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    553

    Default Re: Cracked wall

    Quote Originally Posted by Aga Lakomy View Post
    Should I worry about this crack? What is causing this wall to crack like this ??
    I think we need more information. If this is your home, how long have you lived there and do you know if any "Flippers" had the home before, or did you make any structural changes to the building?

    Besides the normal structural issues that are dealt with on a day-to-day basis, the trend now is to make "open spaces" without any apparent regard to the structural integrity and safety of the structure. I'm sure you have see the TV shows---they are on every day. Only once (Flip the Block) did I see an inspector doing his job. Mike Holmes excluded in this discussion.

    Just one question. Over what period of time did that crack develop?


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