Cracks in walls & Ceilings - Bungalow purchase

Dgar13

Hi there, We are looking at putting in an offer on a bungalow but have noticed a lot of cracks in the walls & ceilings. The house was used as a holiday home & hasn't been used much in last couple of years so this may have some part in this possibly. There are cracks on both sides of some solid walls and stretch up diagonally from door frames to ceiling & across ceiling (all hairline...less than 1mm in width). Need to assess if this is a major concern and if any point in even putting in an offer or if such cracks are something that a good professional could sort out. Photo is sideways so that is coving in middle. Thanks !

. Thanks !

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058225937/cracks-in-walls-ceilings-bungalow-purchase

Dgar 13

I cannot see any cracks in the photo. Is this a concrete block wall or a timber stud wall.

Ant photos of the ceiling cracks

Dgar13

Thanks for your response. Its a concrete brick wall. I have drawn in line to illustrate the direction of the crack (it's just to left of this line from the doorway through coving & across the whole ceiling).

Dgar13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118418911#Comment_118418911

Thanks for your response. Its a concrete brick wall. I have drawn in line to illustrate the direction of the crack (it's just to left of this line from the doorway through coving & across the whole ceiling).

monkeybutter

when and where was it built

Dgar13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118420399#Comment_118420399

Near the coast in Wexford - 1980s Bungalow Bliss.

Cheers !

monkeybutter

kinda depends on how widespread it is, are they on the outside? These would typically be below the threshold for anything to be worried about on a 40 year old house, just fill in and paint over

cracks tend to come out above doors as this is the weakest point in the wall

monseiur

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118420406#Comment_118420406

Hairline cracks in a building which is over 30 years old is nothing to worry about assuming they're there for some time - the longer the better ! Cracks which start off as hairline and gradually get wider and wider are the ones to be concerned about. 99% of all block built plastered housed with skimmed slab ceilings have some cracks. The fabric of buildings expand and contract as it's exposed to different climatic conditions, different materials like, for example timber ceiling joists which may have a lot of moisture when fitted, shrink/contract as the building is heated where as the slab that's fixed to them contracts much less as it has less moisture - this different rate of movement between materials can causes hairline cracks in ceilings. Also bear in mind that the whole surface of the earth is constantly moving and vibrating which can cause hairline cracks in block walls. With just hairline cracks in walls after over 30 years it's unlikely that pyrite is present in blocks.

Get a competent engineer to thoroughly check the house before commiting to buying, pay special attention to the attic area, look for evidence of water ingress especially around chimmneys, dry/wet rot, woodworm etc.

Dgar13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118420652#Comment_118420652

Thanks so much - very helpful info 👍

Dgar13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118420524#Comment_118420524

Thanks a mill - much appreciated 👌

Furze99

What do you mean by a 'lot of cracks'? Does same crack appear both sides of interior wall. Are there any on exterior walls? Bit odd I would have thought that the same crack runs up the wall, through the coving and along the ceiling, two different surfaces at right angles. Get it looked at more carefully. We have some cracks in our ceilings and near doors but that's largely from children jumping off beds and slamming doors in temper tantrums!

xeresod

Had a survey done on a house recently and we were worried about some cracks but the engineer said that lined up with the plaster board joints and just signs of thermal movement and/or rushed installation without tape being used and easy to remedy.

Nothing to worry about in my case, but he did explain that cracks that don't correspond to plasterboard joints could be serious and he showed us some pictures from his book which included ones like yours that included the crack running across the coving which he said was subsidence in that property.

Certainly get a good surveyor if you put an offer in!