Aibu to ask if it's unusual for new cracks to appear in old plasterwork?

[FallSky]

I've noticed two new cracks in some plasterwork today. The house is 1970s and although it has some extensions we are well past the settling stage. The cracks are not large in terms of width although one is very long (vertical). Could this just be due to facet we've had a long dry hot summer?

We get new cracks all the time and our house was built in the 1960s. If they are small they are fine, if you can get your finger into them, or they are in the external walls, less fine. If you are worried get someone to look at them.

We also get filled in ones opening up again too. When we bought our house we could see that there were cracks underneath some of the windows so mentioned it to the surveyor but he wasn't concerned. That is nearly 20 years ago now, we fill them in, they open up again.

I think a lot of it is to do with changes in temperature or if it rains a lot and the house moves slightly. Also if you have tree roots (which can cause bigger issues, but again, if your external walls are ok, I wouldn't worry).

I've noticed a couple of new hairline cracks in the plaster of our 1930's house. My friend has suddenly had huge cracks appear - her house is just down the road from me and was built at the same time as mine.

I also wondered if it was because of the very dry summer.

External walls all look fine. We do have other cracks that open and close according to the time of year! New ones always bother me and I always find them when cleaning. Cleaning is not good 😂

I notice hairline cracks when the heating goes on. I've given up filling them as they just open up again.

Cracks are quite common especially following hot weather. My house had huge cracks appear which have now been confirmed as subsidence following the heatwave. The surveyor advised if a £1 coin could fit in the crack, there could be a structural issue.

Is the land around your house heavy with clay if so this contracts and expands with the weather and can cause movement and new cracks

It's quite common for cracks to appear for temperature changes so as it first goes cold and the heating goes on is quite common or if it's been very hot in the summer. Often cracks are seasonal so sone will then close over as it cools or heats up again. It's quite normal op x

Plaster isn't very flexible so tends to crack with sudden thermal shifts ie as the seasons change x

Have you had recent heavy rain after the long dry spells? Ground was drier than usual this year, and for much longer, so the shrinkage and then the resoaking will lead to more movement back and forth than usual.

If you are at all concerned, a surveyor will check for not much outlay.

Yes we've had a few downpours recently after not much all summer