Settlement cracks in house, fiberglass wallpaper is not enough

[torvenius]

Hi,

We have just bought a house and the previous owner tried to fix the settlement cracks on the ground floor with fiberglass cloth and wallpaper, but still, it cracked right through, and the cracks are visible. Our inspector said the only way to solve the problem is to install new full plasterboards over the cracks, basically re-plastering half of the ground floor. Is there anyone here with similar problems or experience with similar situations?

It doesn't seem worth trying different reinforcement meshes, as there is already fiberglass fabric that has cracked right through. My biggest issue with installing boards is that it adds about 10 mm inwards, which means all the window casings, moldings, etc., have to be removed and relocated. A thinner alternative would be preferable. Perhaps plywood at 3 mm?

 

[mattoys]

There is 6.5 mm renovation gypsum, but you will probably need to remove moldings and trims to make it look nice.

 

[Stefan1972]

what kind of house is it? Sometimes it is built in a way that you more or less have to accept a crack now and then. All wooden houses move and some more in certain places. Sometimes it's easiest to just accept it and spend time and energy on something else instead.

 

[torvenius]

There is 6.5 mm renovation plasterboard, but you'll probably need to remove trim and casing for it to look nice.

Thanks, ah okay I didn't know that existed, great tip, thanks! Yes, you're certainly right about that, of course.

 

[torvenius]

what kind of house is it? Sometimes it’s built in a way that you kind of have to accept a crack sometimes. All wooden houses move and some more in certain places. Sometimes it's easiest to just accept it and spend time and effort on something else instead.

Wooden house from '78. Yes, there is a risk that you have to just accept it, it would just have been nice to try to fix it if you're going to put up some nice wallpaper over it.

 

[doubleH]

Try using paper strips instead of fiberglass over the cracks - paper strips are supposed to be stronger and more flexible than fiberglass strips.

 

[torvenius]

Try using paper tape instead of fiberglass over the cracks - paper tape is supposed to be stronger and more flexible than fiberglass tape.

Ok, thanks for the response! The cracks are quite large, but maybe paper can handle it? I have very little experience with this 🙂

 

[doubleH]

Ok thanks for the response! They are quite large cracks, but maybe paper can handle it? I have very little experience with this

Then you should probably fill the cracks with putty first and then lay strips over them before fine smoothing, sanding, and new wallpaper or painting.

 

[torvenius]

Then you should probably fill the cracks first and then put strips over them before finishing with fine plaster, sanding, and new wallpaper or painting.

Yes, what I'm worried about is that it will crack again and paper or glass fiber fabric won't hold.

 

[doubleH]

Yes, what I'm worried about is that it will crack again and paper or fiberglass won't hold.

You can just try it on a crack that's not so visible - maybe there's one behind a bookshelf or something similar...

 

[torvenius]

It's probably just a matter of testing on a crack that isn't very visible - maybe there's one behind a bookshelf or something similar...

Thanks, yes I might have to do something like that!

 

[garvin]

Is it particleboard as a base

 

[torvenius]

Is it particleboard as the base

yes as far as I know it is