Hairline cracks

[rpaul191]

Hi all,

We bought a 1930's semi detached property in June and have had pretty much the whole property replastered in late July. Since November, we've noticed hairline cracks appearing on chimney breasts, ceilings (particularly leading from corners of the chimney breasts across the ceilings) and some on other walls including from top corners of windows.

We're wondering if this could be due to the cold weather and how normal all of this is. It's our first house with us previously living in modern apartments) and not sure who worried we should be, if at all.

We had a home survey level 2 carried out before buying it and it didn't highlight any concerns relating to this.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[montyjohn]

Buildings move with changes in temperature and humidity so cracking is to be expected.

What did you plaster it with?
Gypsum on older buildings not only can lead to damp issues, but is less forgiving in older buildings that have a habit of moving.

If you replaced lime plaster with gypsum I would expect the timber to be wetter now than it was before which would result in movement.

 

[Cubist]

What was the nature and extent of the plasterwork last year? Was it to make superficial repairs, albeit extensive in area, to just the fine skim coat of plaster or was this back to brick and/or timber full plaster depth?

When did you occupy the house and had it stood vacant for very long beforehand? When did you fire up the heating system and is there a point heat source such as a stove in the room concerned?

 

[stuart45]

It's quite common for cracks to happen at the corner top of frame. It's one of the weak spots in a wall.