Crack on wall - ok to leave for a bit?

[StatesOfMatter]

Photos attached. I have one noticeable crack at top of stairs on landing. There are no windows or doors nearby. I am an end of terrace and this is the wall between me and next door. It has become more noticeable last week or so as heating as kicked in (in thermostat control).

With another lockdown about to start and then Christmas round the corner can this wait I.e is this a plaster crack and decorative or should I get someone in before lockdown to look at it? (If is a general builder? Plasterer?)

No other cracks I anywhere else.

As it is so close to a radiator (just in picture) I’m wondering if it is related to where it is placed.

I would keep an eye on it but don't think it's big enough to warrant getting someone in right now.

Bumping for you though as I'm no expert!

If you tap it does it sound hollow or like it's coming away from the wall? Have you been in the loft to look for signs of damp? Go next door and check their side, go outside and check there's nothing obvious happening there too.
It's probably just a crack in the plaster and the temp difference has caused the crack but worth probing a little further.

Yes I would watch but I would put off unless any quick major change

Draw a pencil line across it with a ruler and mark off exactly 100mm centred on the crack.

Leave it a couple of months and measure it again - if it is still 100mm it is not moving.

OP, have you had works done recently? We recently extended, put in some RSJs and knocked down supporting walls (all signed off by builiding regs etc!). Builders advised that the house will "settle" into the new shape and to expect cracks to appear, to schedule a making-good plastering and repainting session in 12 months time.

Just wondering if you've also had similar works that can explain the cracking? The thing with heat from the radiator only makes sense if it's been re-plastered since last winter, in which case the heat is a 'change', IYSWIM?

If nothing has changed then if I were you I'd send your photos to a recommended local general builder and see if they can give any advice based on the photos.

Best of luck!

You can't do anything about that yet - it's just a hairline & to any professional wouldn't even register as a crack yet!
Keep an eye on it & see if it widens over the next 6 months.

Moved into the house last October - so it may have been replastered spring/summer 2019.

Will check next door and loft as advised. Good idea about pencil line and keeping a measure. It looks like one side is lifting from the other slightly.

Will see how it looks in a few months.

On house work recently had a new solid roof put on conservatory but that is all and the affected wall is 2m from the external wall where the solid roof was attached.

It may well just be a shrinkage crack and nothing to worry about. As it’s an internal wall, that’s most likely. But keep monitoring it.