Crack in wall. Should I be worried?

[divander]

Recently bought a house and started some renovations. The house is from 1959 and built with lightweight concrete and brick on the short sides.

Removed the wallpaper in the living room and saw a crack in the corner. It's the long side of the house that has separated at the top where the crack is widest and tapers downwards. At its widest, it's about 5 mm.

I have no idea how long it has been there and if it’s something to worry about. Is it enough to just fill it in and then keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't come back? Or would it be better to already now incorporate some form of reinforcement?

The house stands quite firmly on rock, so I don't think there could be any major ground settlements. But then again, I'm no expert.

 

[Gustaf Efternamn]

Hello

I have the same problem with my house (house from 1961). The first crack I discovered, I opened up a small V-shape on and then filled in. The crack came back after a few months. The other cracks I found in the house, I opened up quite substantial V-shapes on and repaired with 'väggspackel Finja laga väg'. Then I filled over the last millimeters and they have held up well, no new cracks.

I might know this but called our inspector and asked about these cracks, if there was any danger with them. I was told that they are settlements and very common, no risk to the load-bearing structure.

 

[divander]

Hello

I have the same problem with my house (house from 1961). The first crack I discovered, I chipped out a small V-shape and then patched it up. The crack came back after a few months. For the other cracks I discovered in the house, I chipped out fairly significant V-shapes and repaired them with 'väggspackel Finja laga väg'. Then I patched over the last few millimeters, and they have held up well, no new cracks.

I don't know this but called our inspector and asked about these cracks, if they were dangerous in any way. The answer was that they are settling cracks and very common, not a risk for the supporting structure.

I also think it's probably not dangerous. Patched and painted, and can then see if there are more cracks.

 

[AG A]

I also think it's probably safe. Spackled and painted and can then see if there are more cracks.

It's something you have to expect when building houses. All concrete and mortar crack with 100% certainty. The only difference is how much it cracks. This crack probably occurred within the first few years after the house was built. The ground always settles a bit, and the mortar cracks a bit when it sets/cures. You are 99% likely not to worry about it getting worse.
Try patching it up, and painting. But the risk is high that it will come off, as it's hard to get the filler deep enough. If it doesn't work, you can try with some silicone-like soft sealant instead.

 

[namnbyte]

No, absolutely not silicone-based sealant; it should be paintable sealant/latex sealant, otherwise you will never be able to paint over it.

 

[divander]

That's something you have to count on when building houses. All concrete and mortar crack with 100% certainty. The only difference is how much it cracks. This crack likely appeared within the first few years after the house was built. The ground always settles a bit, and the mortar cracks a little as it cures. You most likely don't need to worry about it getting worse. Try filling it with filler and paint. But there is a big risk it will come off, as it's hard to get the filler deep enough. If it doesn't work, you can try a silicone-like flexible seal instead.

Good. Then I feel a bit calmer. Yes, there are almost always cracks, but I just wanted to check with some more eyes to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I'm using regular wall filler. If that doesn't work and it comes off or cracks, I'll adjust it later.

I also have another crack along the floor where below is a garage door. It seems to be a bit poorly reinforced, so I might put in a reinforcement beam in the garage ceiling there.

 

[AG A]

No, that's neither what I said nor meant. I said silicone-like to better explain the consistency and similar. What I was referring to was some form of latex/paint caulk.

No, absolutely not silicone-based caulk, it should be paint caulk/latex caulk otherwise you will never be able to paint over it.

 

[AG A]

Good. Then I feel a little more at ease. Yes, cracks almost always happen, but I just wanted to check with a few more eyes to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Talking with regular wall spackle. If that doesn't work and it comes loose or cracks, I'll adjust it later.

I also have another crack along the floor where underneath is a garage door. It looks like it's a bit poorly reinforced, so maybe I'll put a reinforcement beam in the garage ceiling there.

No, wall spackle is unlikely to work that well. Instead, use some sort of soft Mortar, and plaster. C-mortar for example. But then there's also concrete spackle and plaster spackle. You'll probably need to ask in the store which product is preferable. If you don't choose C-mortar, that is.

 

[krambriw]

House fix??

 

[AG A]

Husfix??

I have never used Husfix myself. But according to what it is intended for, I think it is perfect for this purpose.