Cracks - settling or serious?
We have been seeing a bunch of cracks in our newly renovated space. Many of them are probably due to weather or minor settling (around molding for example). But some around the stairwell are making me a more concerned. Who would I call to have this looked into? A structural engineer? Any recommendations? Anyone else…
We have been seeing a bunch of cracks in our newly renovated space. Many of them are probably due to weather or minor settling (around molding for example). But some around the stairwell are making me a more concerned.
Who would I call to have this looked into? A structural engineer? Any recommendations?
Anyone else had similar issues?
I can’t picture what you’re describing, but the cracks could be from plaster that is no longer adhering to the lathe. If it’s a structural problem, you need to watch the crack to see if it’s still moving. I’ve used Heimer, among others, and I thought they were good.
The set of cracks I am most concerned about are around the 3rd floor landing/stairwell. The landing area over the stair is cracking under the roof access closet and the baseboard molding along the hall wall across from the closet is cracking at an angle. It is not a spot where two pieces of baseboard come together and it is sort of “splintering” and pulling away (but it is still in the same plane) if that makes sense. And one of the floor boards at that end of hallway appears to be rising vs the one next to it.
I haven’t noticed anything in the building envelope or basement and the sheet rock seems fine. There a couple spots in the remaining plaster that was skim coated in the stairwell that have cracks (one of them on the ceiling below the roof access closet). Maybe there is just a problem with a floor joist or something on the 3rd floor near that closet?
I think I want to bring in an engineer if nothing else to put my mind at rest. Do you have anyone to recommend?
Thanks!
Where are the cracks occuring (not stairwell, but in sheetrock, brick, etc). Cracks in sheetrock can be caused obviously be settling, but could also be issues with framing, sheetrocking, taping, etc. If the cracks are happening in the building structure, or envelope itself, there are a couple of DIY assessments you can make to determine if you need to call in an engineer. With most cracks in building structures, especially basements, you want to look and see if the two sides of the crack are on the same plane. If one side of the crack is pushed out, or pulled away, that means that the structure is moving laterally and then it’s usually time for an engineer. Cracks where both sides are on the same plane are usually just settling. With settling, you have enough time to see if the settling is still occuring, which depending on where the crack is you can usually do yourself.