Help!! The plaster walls in my house are getting cracks. Why is this happening and how do I fix them?
Question:Is my house falling down? One wall has a crack through the plaster. The others seem to be not like that. What supplies do I need to fix these? Also could you give me details as to how to fix them? Email details if you wish. Thanks. The house is over 50 years old and all walls are plaster of some type. Gray looking inside.
Answers:
Seasonal changes in humidity, and settling over time, can cause a house to flex as the framing lumber behind the walls and ceilings expands and contracts. The only defense when dealing with these cracks is to attempt to maintain as constant a level of humidity as possible within the house. This is often tough to accomplish.
There are several ways you can tackle the crack repair process. One method I have used with great success is to treat the cracks like new drywall seams. You tape over them using an adhesive fiberglass mesh tape or a paper tape. Successive layers of joint and topping compound disguise the repair. A final skim coat over the entire wall fills dimples, hairline cracks, and other imperfections.
Another method is to apply large sheets of thin fiberglass mesh over the entire wall or ceiling. The entire surface is then skim coated with joint compounds which hide the cracks and the mesh.
The ready mixed joint compounds may not be the best material to use. They are simply buckets of glue and filler. You can buy dry powdered setting type joint compounds that mix readily with water. These compounds contain a mixture of glue, filler, and gypsum. The presence of gypsum allows them to harden much like concrete. Same day wall repairs from start to finish are possible with these magical materials.
The ready mixed joint compounds do not always bond firmly to old plaster. In addition, they produce a somewhat softer final surface which may scratch or ding more easily. The setting type joint compounds can be mixed with water and acrylic bonding liquids. This permits them to readily stick to the old plaster.
If you want to avoid dust storms during the final stages of your project, why not buff the walls with a rubber float? These tools are used to grout ceramic tile. If you slightly dampen the dried joint compound and glide the float over the wall surface, you can create a smooth finish that rivals that of the original master who installed the plaster.
Yes, your house is falling down. Sort of. Everything is falling. Bu in housing they call it 'settling'. I used to fix my own with some spackle (available in small, crack-fixing amounts in the paint aisle) and then smoothed it over. Then sand lightly and paint. I got so many cracks taht I finally paid a guy $395 to come over and do them all. They look neater than the ones I did and he was able to match the texture on some of the surfaces with special brushes he had.
Sounds to me like you foundation is settling.
Look along the bottom of your walls inside and out for cracks...
Plaster or drywall? Determine that and any home improvement store will sell what you need in order to repair the cracks. Plaster repair or drywall compound, and they are not interchangable.
To fix depends on the severity of the crack. However, I have had luck in cutting along the crack in a V shape, wide and the top yet still almost touching underneath. At the back I will use an elasticized caulk. Once that dries I put the joint compound / plaster repair on, let it dry and sand, recoat, etc., etc. until it is smooth. All patch products will have air bubbles and shrink when drying. This is why it will take multiple coats. Do not rush it or the patch will be weak and will crack in the near future.
As for what is causing the cracks depends on many factors. Cracking is not uncommon and is normally caused by the swelling and shrinking of the wood lath / framing behind. All wood will continue to shrink and swell with the changes in humidity and temperature throughout the seasons. Common areas for cracks are at the tops of door jambs / windows from the corner of the trim up toward the ceiling.
If the crack is severe there may be another underlying problem. One thing to look at is whether or not the crack is even on each side, meaning that to the left of the crack and to the right are at the same level. If they are offset, this indicates motion / extreme vibration. Are they doing any blasting near you?
It is hard to go beyond that without seeing the house, the cracks, etc. Cracks, worst-case scenario, can be a sign of foundation problems. How long have you lived there?
Hope this food-for-thought helps.
sounds like your foundation is settling
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