Hello,
I recently removed old wooden panels from a wall and discovered a crack behind them. It runs from an electrical outlet up to the ceiling and is about 3–4cm (1¼–1½ inches) wide near the outlet, narrowing to around 0.5–1cm (¼–⅜ inch). There is also some surface mold growing next to it. Air is coming through the crack (which is why the panels were removed).
A mason friend inspected the crack and said it’s not a big deal. Just fill it with expanding foam and then smooth it over. However, I’m not completely confident about this advice and wanted to ask here for recommendations on how to properly deal with such a crack. It is on an exterior wall.
I would like to attach some pictures to this post, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be working…
Thanks in advance!
Best regards, Max
Edit: I just realized I’m in the wrong section… Building defects probably fits better. Could this topic be moved?
I recently removed old wooden panels from a wall and discovered a crack behind them. It runs from an electrical outlet up to the ceiling and is about 3–4cm (1¼–1½ inches) wide near the outlet, narrowing to around 0.5–1cm (¼–⅜ inch). There is also some surface mold growing next to it. Air is coming through the crack (which is why the panels were removed).
A mason friend inspected the crack and said it’s not a big deal. Just fill it with expanding foam and then smooth it over. However, I’m not completely confident about this advice and wanted to ask here for recommendations on how to properly deal with such a crack. It is on an exterior wall.
I would like to attach some pictures to this post, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be working…
Thanks in advance!
Best regards, Max
Edit: I just realized I’m in the wrong section… Building defects probably fits better. Could this topic be moved?
Dirk Grafe schrieb:
Hello bemjou,
if you want to find out whether wall sections are still shifting, you can attach a "crack gauge" or "crack monitor" and take photos at regular intervals. You need to observe it for several months up to a year – the less movement there is, the longer you should monitor. If the crack shifts significantly in one direction, you might save yourself the renovation; then you just have to wait until the movement settles or intervene structurally right away.
Just search for the terms above and you’ll find plenty of easy-to-understand information.
Best regards,
Dirk GrafeHello Dirk,
thank you very much for your reply. That’s definitely something I’m considering, great tip! I have an appointment with the structural engineer next week, and then I think a crack gauge is a good option for further monitoring.
When I know more, I’ll update this thread for others with a similar issue.
Kind regards