Cracked walls are a common sight in older buildings. Between the earth settling and seasonal expansion, cracks can and do form. Even newer buildings may end up sporting a crack or two if the right kind of stress is put on it. If you've discovered a crack forming in your wall, you may be wondering if you need to get some kind of [FURL=http://crackedwalls.com.au/]cracked wall repair[/FURL] done. Is it just unsightly, or is there a serious structural issue going on?The good news is, most cracks are benign in nature. If your crack is a hairline crack around a door or window perhaps, you can probably just cover it up with a little bit of Spackle and not worry about it. There are situations however, when a crack is very serious and needs to be looked at by a professional. In general, these are your clues that there is something more serious to worry about.
The crack is wide, or horizontal
If the crack is wider than 3/16”, this is a sign that there is something more going on than just the earth settling. If the crack runs horizontally across the wall instead of vertically, this is also a potential sign of a serious problem. Horizontal cracks tend to mean there is something seriously wrong with the foundation, so it is best to get it looked at by a professional in this case.
One side of the wall is higher than the other
When evaluating a crack, it's helpful to take a step back and really look at the overall picture. Is it just a crack in the wall, or has the whole wall shifted? If the sides of the crack don't align with each other, or one side of the wall is higher than the other side, this is a possible sign of a structural issue.
If you're not sure if one side of the wall is higher or not, try opening a window or door. Does it stick when you open it? Is it difficult or impossible to open and shut, and there's no other reason such as paint or hardware making it so? It may be the house has shifted so much the problem is now a structural one.
Visible Nails
Sometimes, the nails in the framing of your house work their way loose and pop through the drywall. This phenomenon is sometimes called 'nail popping' for that very reason. If you see nails popped loose in association with a crack, you should get the crack evaluated by a professional.
Most wall cracks aren't serious, and are simply the results of the seasons, or tiny shifts in the foundation. If your crack is just a hairline change in the drywall, you can probably just patch it. If on the other hand, you see one of these other signs in combination with the wall crack, you should call someone with experience in wall crack repair to see what needs to be done to keep the building safe.
References:
[FURL]https://homeguides.sfgate.com/determine-cracks-walls-serious-37395.html [/FURL]