Straight line crack stemming from upstairs hot-press across landing? Serious? Or "cosmetic"?

Praetorian22

Hi Folks,

Seeking wisdom,

Noticed something a little strange while on the landing this morning; a straight line crack that comes directly out of the hot-press and proceeds right directly across the landing. I cannot for the life of me find any other cracks or seperation marks in any of the upstairs rooms. It seems to just be directly on the landing.

I'm wondering if it was there all along and I never noticed it (living in the house only a few months). I recently got some electrical wiring done in the attic so I'm wondering if its related to the drilling/job work that got done up there or whether it could be heat related? Boilers down at the moment so using electrical rads in a few of the rooms.

Any idea on what it could be and how concerned I should be? It starts directly in the hot-press at those water

pipes coming from the attic

Mr321

Looks like the slab joints and the hard wall slim has cracked through. Not uncommon in any age of a house. As you said if work was being done it could have added to it but with the landing being above it there would also be alot of traffic.

So yes cosmetic, there's a multi purpose crack filler smooth finish you can feed into that crack and run over it using a paint scrapper etc. Might still need a light sanding after it before painting.

Praetorian22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121345989#Comment_121345989

Hi Mr321, thanks a million for the feedback, house is 30+ years so that sounds about right, I asked a neighbour x builder to have a look too he reckons the same of similar and that the crew doing the work inadvertently stood on the boards in the attic or something along those lines, Something else I've just realized is that I'm careless with the attic door/fold down stares, I continually let it slam closed rather than close it poperly.

Thanks again and I will 100% look into that picking up a multi purpose crack filler

GreeBo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121345989#Comment_121345989

looks like stippled ceiling so trying to fill it will be murder.

I'd probably just paint over it tbh.

mickdw

Nothing to worry about.

The workmen moving around up there could be enough to cause it without them misstepping at all or indeed slamming the attic stairs closed would equally do it.

listermint

Pressure cracks from people accessing the attic.

Quite normal around seasonal times of year like Halloween decorations and or Christmas.

10-10-20

All of the above and I'll add that at this time of year with heating on and colder temperatures, wood attic joists and roof rafters actually dry out and contract and you can get those scrappy looking cracks in the ceiling. I've gone and filled some of those in the Winter only to have the wood expand again in the Summer, causing the joint to bulge afterwards. Some years are worse than others too, it's all hard to predict.

Praetorian22

Folks,

Just want to thank everyone for the feedback, insight, guidance and recommendations on the above. I'll look into a light fix and refrain from slamming the attic door from now on for sure! 🤣

Thanks again everyone and have a great weekend