u/Budget_Fail591

Hi, im really worried about a crack in my wall. I’ve spoken to a couple of builders and sent them these photos but they are so busy at the moment. my anxiety is through the roof waiting for one of them to have time to come and look.

I’ve got what’s looks like a 1mm slightly diagonal 1.5 meter long crack in my internal plaster. it’s covered by wallpaper at the moment. It easily shows during the day in the warmer weather by creasing the wallpaper then mostly goes in the evening when it’s cooler outside. Its an upstairs, gable end cavity wall south facing so gets the sun all day. It starts roughly at the bottom of a windowsill up towards a chimney breast and looks like it follows up the side of the chimney a little. I’ve take the plaster off in a couple of places (about an inch) and it looks like there’s a gap between the bricks where the mortar is missing/failed.

The bottom of the crack steps out a tiny bit but I think the plaster has blown. it’s original 1950s, very thick and sounds hollow in places.

we had a much shorter similar crack looked at by a structural engineer a few months ago and he said that was due to old plaster and the heat. I feel like a really wasted his time and he was lovely so feel reluctant to call him again so soon

Theres also a 1mm horizontal crack at the top of the window that’s been there 4 years at least, though when looking at it today it could be a bit longer than it was. window opens fine, there’s no cracks showing outside

HI, this maybe a really silly question but when do cracks in walls become structural? ive got what’s looks like a 1mm slightly diagonal 1.5 meter long crack in my internal plaster. it’s covered by wallpaper at the moment. It easily shows during the day in the warmer weather by creasing the wallpaper then mostly goes in the evening when it’s cooler outside. Its an upstairs, gable end cavity wall south facing so gets the sun all day. It starts roughly at the bottom of a windowsill up towards a chimney breast and looks like it follows up the side of the chimney a little.

The bottom of the crack steps out a tiny bit but I think the plaster has blown. it’s original 1950s, very thick and sounds hollow in places.

we had a much shorter similar crack looked at by a structural engineer a few months ago and he said that was due to old plaster and the heat. I feel like a really wasted his time and he was lovely so feel reluctant to call him again so soon

Theres also a 1mm wide horizontal crack at the top of the window on the same wall that’s been there a couple of years at least, though when looking at it today it has definitely grown to the length of the wall. window opens fine, there’s no cracks showing outside

HI, this maybe a really silly question but when do cracks in walls become structural? ive got what’s looks like a 1mm slightly diagonal 1.5 meter long crack in my internal plaster. it’s covered by wallpaper at the moment. It easily shows during the day in the warmer weather by creasing the wallpaper then mostly goes in the evening when it’s cooler outside. Its an upstairs, gable end cavity wall south facing so gets the sun all day. It starts roughly at the bottom of a windowsill up towards a chimney breast and looks like it follows up the side of the chimney a little.

The bottom of the crack steps out a tiny bit but I think the plaster has blown. it’s original 1950s, very thick and sounds hollow in places.

we had a much shorter similar crack looked at by a structural engineer a few months ago and he said that was due to old plaster and the heat. I feel like a really wasted his time and he was lovely so feel reluctant to call him again so soon

Theres also a 1mm horizontal crack at the top of the window that’s been there 4 years at least, though when looking at it today it could be a bit longer than it was. window opens fine, there’s no cracks showing outside.

I’m sending this sample off to be tested. I was fairly confident it wouldn’t contain asbestos after having a room downstairs tested last year but the sample taken from downstairs didn’t have this grey layer in it.

it’s a 1950-1970s ex council house uk and I’m now worrying the grey layer could contain asbestos. the plasterer and builder I’ve spoken to have both said they wouldn’t have even tested it as it’s unlikely but I need to be sure.

has anyone come across this layer in plaster before and it’s been negative?

sorry I know this photo is awful. I’ve noticed this crack under some wallpaper in an upstairs bedroom. I’ve read step cracking is a worry. It’s about 10 inches below the top of the wall and to the right is a window. The plaster to the right does sound a little hollow if you tap it but solid around the crack. The House is 1960s and I think it’s still original plaster. This is an end wall that does get a fair bit of sun. I’ve peeled back the wallpaper a little and can see a tiny crack but it does stick out a bit. I can’t see a cracks in the wall outside.

sorry I know this photo is awful. I’ve noticed this crack under some wallpaper in an upstairs bedroom. I’ve read step cracking is a worry. It’s about 10 inches below the top of the wall and to the right is a window. The plaster to the right does sound a little hollow if you tap it but solid around the crack. The House is 1960s and I think it’s still original plaster. This is an end wall that does get a fair bit of sun. I’ve peeled back the wallpaper a little and can see a tiny crack but it does stick out a bit. I can’t see a cracks in the wall outside.

sorry I know this photo is awful. I’ve noticed this crack under some wallpaper in an upstairs bedroom. I’ve read step cracking is a worry. It’s about 10 inches from the top of the wall and to the right is a window. The plaster to the right does sound very hollow if you tap it. House is 1960s and I think it’s still original plaster. I’ve peeled back the wallpaper a little and can see a tiny crack but it does stick out a bit. i can’t see a cracks in the wall outside.

we had a structural engineer visit a few weeks ago as there was lots of cracks in the upstairs walls and we were assured it’s all cosmetic due to old plaster but I hadnt noticed this one. The shape and that it sticks out a bit is what is really worrying me.

fingers crossed it’s the heat and pregnancy hormones making this into a big deal

Hi I’m having the guttering changed on my 1950-1960s house next week as the gutters up there now are cast iron and leaking in multiple places. I think the soffits on my house are asbestos, I’m not sure if they are board or cement but I’m really anxious about them being disturbed. The roofer doing it knows my worries and seems absolutely fine doing it. He had a great reputation and I trust him.

I think the soffits are in an ok condition, there’s paint flaking off them in some places but other than that I can’t see any damage. I’ve not got the spare cash to have an overlay on them just yet, but wondered what the risks are having this done?

Hopefully I’m overthinking this and people who deal with this stuff each day will be able to reassure me

Hi after speaking to a builder today we are looking to have our 1950-1960s corbelled gable end chimney removed to below roof level. I asked a structural engineer if he thought it would cause any issues structurally and he said no. Looking back at my photos in the loft I’m wondering if this bit would cause issues?

My gable end chimney is leaning inwards a bit. I’ve had 3 builders, a roofer and a structural engineer all say they don’t think it’s leaning enough to worry about it. Surely it shouldn’t be leaning at all? The house is about 80 years old I’m worried it will come crashing through the roof. The roofer went up and had a look, there’s quite a few cracks in the front of the mortar but he said it’s absolutely solid and if it was his house it wouldn’t bother him. Am I overreacting?

Hi, I’ve noticed this step crack at the top of the wall of my house. 2 builders have said it’s nothing to worry about but since then I’ve found horizontal and diagonal hairline cracks inside the house, upstairs on the same wall in every room. I can’t see any outside that matches these. There are radiators on the same walls by the cracks so wondered if it could be caused by thermal movement? Or maybe even roof spread?