ᐅ Older buildings: Cover interior plaster and settlement cracks (crack reinforcement)
Created on: 8 Jan 2013 16:20
W
wagibHello dear forum,
We have purchased a house that was built in the 1940s. Shortly after the war, an extension was added, where, probably due to cost reasons or material shortages, some shortcuts were taken. Because of settling, there are significant settlement cracks in the area between the extension and the original structure. On one hand, an appropriate expansion joint between the extension and the original building was apparently omitted, and on the other hand, it is possible that the foundation was somehow under-dimensioned. Unfortunately, this cannot be verified anymore, as there is no longer any information about the foundations in the building records.
According to the previous owner, cracks still appear, but they are rather small since the settling process is now complete. We were already aware of the cracks, so initially there was no reason for concern.
The last renovation of the interior walls (replastered) was done about 15 years ago. The cracks that have occurred since then are less than 1mm (0.04 inches) wide, more like 0.5mm (0.02 inches). So I believe this is the maximum movement we can expect.
We now want to have the walls replastered and, of course, hope that the cracks can be properly covered in a way that they will not reappear or only minimally. What options are available, and how much movement can be compensated by these methods?
From my research, there are, for example, crack reinforcement systems like those offered by Herbol — elastic plaster materials combined with an elastic mesh structure.
Is this advisable, or what alternatives are there? What do professionals usually do?
Thanks and best regards
wagib
We have purchased a house that was built in the 1940s. Shortly after the war, an extension was added, where, probably due to cost reasons or material shortages, some shortcuts were taken. Because of settling, there are significant settlement cracks in the area between the extension and the original structure. On one hand, an appropriate expansion joint between the extension and the original building was apparently omitted, and on the other hand, it is possible that the foundation was somehow under-dimensioned. Unfortunately, this cannot be verified anymore, as there is no longer any information about the foundations in the building records.
According to the previous owner, cracks still appear, but they are rather small since the settling process is now complete. We were already aware of the cracks, so initially there was no reason for concern.
The last renovation of the interior walls (replastered) was done about 15 years ago. The cracks that have occurred since then are less than 1mm (0.04 inches) wide, more like 0.5mm (0.02 inches). So I believe this is the maximum movement we can expect.
We now want to have the walls replastered and, of course, hope that the cracks can be properly covered in a way that they will not reappear or only minimally. What options are available, and how much movement can be compensated by these methods?
From my research, there are, for example, crack reinforcement systems like those offered by Herbol — elastic plaster materials combined with an elastic mesh structure.
Is this advisable, or what alternatives are there? What do professionals usually do?
Thanks and best regards
wagib
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