New plaster cracking

[Plasterwoes]

Hello,

We have recently had our integral garage converted, which was completed mid November last year. We are using it as a playroom for the kids, and have also had a stud wall added to make a small storage room at the end.

The walls have been plaster boarded and plastered, the ceiling had already been plastered and was in a good condition so was touched up in a few places (holes from the up and over garage door bracket fittings, and changing the light from a strip light to a pendant light.)

However, we've noticed over the last couple of weeks, the plaster is cracking at the edges by the ceiling, and around the door frame. We had the electric meter boxed in, hence the wall being further out on the picture.

Should I get in touch with the company? I'm thinking I should, but I need someone with a bit of plastering know-how to confirm that it should not be cracking like this. And what should I expect the company we used to do about it?

Thanks

Some shrinkage cracking is normal after new plaster, especially after it’s been very warm or you’ve used the central heating. Usually where plasterboard sheets join or where ceilings meet walls like in your pics.

When we had building work we included a requirement in the contract to come and touch up shrinkage cracks 6 months after finishing but I don’t think this is standard, it was a suggestion from our architect. However most good builders who want to keep on good terms/keep a good reputation would agree to do this I would hope.

I think all you can do is ask them to come and touch up, but I don’t think they are necessarily obliged to legally, as cracks don’t mean they’ve done a bad job. Do you still have the paint?

Thank you @minipie, I do still have the paint. Do you think I should just polyfiller the cracks? They are about 2mm and seem to be getting longer everytime we look at them!

I think it would be worth asking your builder first, you never know they may agree to touch it up for you. Also they can use plasterboard tape which would do a better job than just polyfilla.

Either way though, whether it’s you or the builder, it may be best to wait till spring a) so you can keep an eye on whether the gaps are still getting bigger and might be something more than just shrinkage (take photos/measurements) and b) so that the heating is off and you won’t just get the cracks re opening again

Leave them for more time as they'll come back. It's settling, drying, expanding and contracting. Think about it in summertime but do keep photos and a log and mention it now to the builders so they know it's coming!

Pretty standard new plaster often cracks through drying, usually need a bit of filling repainting a year or so after completion.