Horizontal Ceiling Hairline Crack

[LookingOptimistic]

Hi i am just wondering if anyway can offer any insight as to wether these are just non-serious plaster cracks? Its in my living room horizontal from one sode to other (shortest length as ots quite long room the other way).

I have been here two years; its been this way and hasnt changed in that time, and the surveyor wenr we bought the place didnt say anything.

House built 1979, so it isnt old, structually sound from what i can see, no issues with bricks/mortor on outside.

Possibly a joint in the plasterboard that’s shrunk. Very negligible. Nothing to worry about I would think.

@PresentingPercy

Ah ok, shouldn't worry then. I reckon you could only get a fingernail in it so its not a wide gap just a bit disconcerting when you look at it go from one side to other almost.

My thought is that if follows the joint from one side to the other. It’s also a tiny crack.

If it goes down the walls and around the ceiling edge and you can easily insert a coin into it, then get a bit concerned.

@PresentingPercy ah ok, will bare that in mind. No cracks in walls to either side and definately cant insert a coin in it.

Thanks _

Don’t worry then. Just fill and decorate if you don’t like them.

If it goes down the walls and around the ceiling edge and you can easily insert a coin into it, then get a bit concerned.

Oh poo. I have a crack that goes down the walls and around the ceiling edge. I’m going to hunt out a coin...

@PresentingPercy I can’t fit a coin in it but if it was maybe one third wider it would be the width of a coin rim. Do I need to panic?

The above photo is an external wall.

These photos are an internal wall in the room next door to the above photo. It’s completely tiled but the crack has pushed the tiles out along the grouting and the crack goes up to the ceiling and along it through the middle about half a metre. There’s a border tile lower down the wall and it’s gone straight through the middle of it. The coin is to show how far out the tiles are from each other (there isn’t a gap between them).

Sorry for hijacking your thread @LookingOptimistic I should have started a new one of my own!

Just to clarify: DH is a structural engineer. I have been married to him for 40 years so we have discussed cracks regularly!

Don’t panic. Those are more significant. Are there cracks on the outside of the property? Are they ground or first floor? They could be settlement cracks that open and close with soil conditions. If you are worried and there are cracks outside, get a structural engineer to put your mind at rest.

Thank you @PresentingPercy

I don’t know if there are cracks on the outside at that same point as it’s difficult land to access (neighbour’s garden, it’s complicated) and I haven’t been out there for a long time. But there are cracks on the outside at the front of the property. It’s ground floor. It’s a flat and I don’t know if there are any cracks in the upstairs flat but I can ask.

The tiled room is a bathroom and we’re saving to have it redone. I think I might factor a structural engineer in as well! Do know roughly what your DH would charge to come out and assess (just so I have some general idea)?

He’s a bit expensive these days! FIStructE is a bit over the top for what you want.

Generally inside cracks are shrinkage and or a settlement. If bricks are cracked and are clearly pulling apart, then it should be looked at to find the cause. A local small firm of consulting structural engineers is your best bet. You don’t want to be paying top £££ for the head honcho!

Haha fair enough @PresentingPercy! Thanks so much for the advice.