ᐅ Cracks in the surface plaster – is this normal?

In our beautiful new two-story single-family house, built with lightweight bricks from delta 12, 36.5cm (14.4 inches) thick, small cracks have appeared in the exterior plaster near the window corners after about half a year. These cracks run diagonally away from the window and are approximately 10–20cm (4–8 inches) long. Although they are barely visible, as the homeowner you notice everything. Are we victims of poor workmanship, or is this to be expected? How should these cracks be treated? Should I ask my architect to have the plasterer carry out a repair?

Thanks and best regards

Hello,

In any case, have the plasterer come and ask him to assess the situation first. It probably shouldn’t be happening, and small cracks can develop into larger ones. There is also the risk of water accumulating underneath.

Regards,
Rudolf

Hello,

we had a similar issue and our plasterer fixed it without any problems. It wasn’t a big deal, though it was only at one spot.

Regards
Erika

Hello,

cracks often appear quickly in the plaster both inside and outside. I think these are stress cracks—not a structural issue but also not very attractive 🙂 They mostly occur around windows, window sills, or above window lintels. Maybe the plasterer did not properly prepare the surface with something like reinforcing mesh? I would also report this to the architect and the plasterer, as they usually provide a warranty for their work. If it is a rough plaster finish, repairing might be more challenging 🙂 a smooth plaster finish typically does not cause problems (pattern).

Regards

Hello!

In any case, contact the responsible party (plasterer / contractor, etc.). They should take a look at it and, if necessary, hire an independent expert to assess the situation if they refuse to fix the damage. As already mentioned, moisture can quickly accumulate in such cracks, which can lead to serious problems.

Best regards

Nico

I would suggest talking to the company that did the plastering first, and if that doesn’t help, immediately get an expert to assess the damage. If necessary, take the case to court. It’s not the ideal solution, but unfortunately many construction companies only understand it that way.