Good day.
I have various wall cracks in my newly built apartment (now 4 years old). Visually, they don’t look good.
Simply painting over them probably won’t help.
But which cracks are actually serious and which are just cosmetically unappealing?
For example, horizontal cracks next to windows and doors?
Or vertical cracks from the ceiling down the exterior walls (as seen from inside)?
It is difficult to estimate the depth and width. The length is visible.
Are there any general guidelines about this?
Thank you very much.
I have various wall cracks in my newly built apartment (now 4 years old). Visually, they don’t look good.
Simply painting over them probably won’t help.
But which cracks are actually serious and which are just cosmetically unappealing?
For example, horizontal cracks next to windows and doors?
Or vertical cracks from the ceiling down the exterior walls (as seen from inside)?
It is difficult to estimate the depth and width. The length is visible.
Are there any general guidelines about this?
Thank you very much.
A
Alessandro10 Nov 2020 09:15I wouldn’t worry about the thickness. These are likely settlement cracks, which are common in any new build. They tend to be more noticeable where, for example, drywall meets stone or concrete.
Nowadays, it’s no longer common to let a house rest for a period after completion to settle. It’s even worse with developer-built homes, as they want tenants or buyers to move in as quickly as possible to start making money sooner.
Ask your neighbors if they have similar cracks. Give the building another 1-2 years for all the moisture (which can amount to tens of thousands of liters in a new build) to evaporate. Then you can cover up the cracks.
Nowadays, it’s no longer common to let a house rest for a period after completion to settle. It’s even worse with developer-built homes, as they want tenants or buyers to move in as quickly as possible to start making money sooner.
Ask your neighbors if they have similar cracks. Give the building another 1-2 years for all the moisture (which can amount to tens of thousands of liters in a new build) to evaporate. Then you can cover up the cracks.
F
fraubauer10 Nov 2020 09:30Alessandro schrieb:
Regarding the thickness, I wouldn’t worry too much. These are probably settlement cracks, which occur in almost every new build. They tend to be more noticeable where, for example, drywall meets stone or concrete.
Nowadays, it’s no longer common practice to leave a house to rest after completion to settle. It’s even worse with developer-built homes, as they want tenants or buyers to move in as quickly as possible to start earning money sooner.
Ask the neighbors if they have similar cracks.
Give the building another 1–2 years for all the moisture (which can amount to tens of thousands of liters in a new build) to evaporate. After that, you can cover up the cracks. Isn’t a building supposed to be dry already after 4 years? That’s what I’ve read here.
And that cracks wider than 0.2mm (0.008 inches) should be monitored to ensure they don’t progress further.
A
Alessandro10 Nov 2020 09:46Are the cracks new, or have they existed since you moved in?
Do the neighbors also have similar cracks?
Do the neighbors also have similar cracks?
F
fraubauer10 Nov 2020 09:49Alessandro schrieb:
Are the cracks new or have they been there since you moved in?
Do the neighbors also have similar cracks?Hello.
The cracks appeared later. There were none at the handover when we moved in.
The neighbors all have cracks as well, to varying degrees. Some even have horizontal cracks at the top of the door frame. But there are also many vertical cracks (some about 1 meter (3.3 feet) long and approximately 0.5mm (0.02 inches) in diameter).
These occur on the exterior walls and the basement too.
Similar topics