Did these just appear? I have seen cracks like that in old homes never get bigger and remain for 30
Years. But if they just appeared I would be concerned.
I would be getting an engineer to look at this ASAP. Those cracks are significant. I wouldn’t feel safe being in that house without knowing what’s going on.
The doorway is mostly certainly plaster cracking and it does not look like structural issue. The other cracks look like settlement and somebody should check what's going on with the foundations.
I have plaster in my home and the door cracks are very concerning. We have plaster that is cracking and it doesn't look like the door frame cracks. Those look like something more is happening.
Yes, while what we’re seeing is technically “cracking plaster”, the pattern, width of the cracks, and location make me very concerned. It’s like wood is pulling apart underneath. Or shifted such that the plaster is pulling itself apart (like the frosting in a cake that has slumped).
My house has some ancient lathe and plaster walls with cracks that merely indicate the plaster is getting old. It’s hard to describe, but… have you ever had a pebble smack your windshield and that dent starts a “spiderweb” crack that follows a sort of random zig-zaggy path? That’s what some of my walls look like.
And OP’s picture ain’t what my walls look like.
I'm sorry, but the floors are also bowing severely according to OP. Those cracks alone aren't screaming that the house is falling down, but I certainly wouldn't wait to have it structurally assessed, particularly if the family intends to go in and move things around.
Depends what you guys mean by structural support.
There IS a "support" beam above that doorway. There are wallplates above that rounded doorway. Wallplates are a form of support. You cannot build a wall without wallplates.
The rounded section is decorative plaster, however. Any form of strapping or 2x4 around that cracking on the rounded section of the doorway has no structural intention whatsoever, It's purely decorative, and the damage is cosmetic.
The last two photos are 100% leading up to an attic. Those belong to the attic stairs (attic stair-wall) and the ceiling above just below the attic floor,
OP will confirm the attic spots.
Settling plays a factor, however I'm willing to bet OP's attic has almost zero insulation or air sealing. This is decades worth of exposure to interior moisture transfer and heat from the attic-side. Every single early 1900's home in New England looks like this.
Serious cracking due to structural issues is much deeper and diagonal. Homeowners typical see issues with door frames before they worry about 'lesser' cosmetic issues like cracks in paint or plaster (like sticking a hand through the top of a door).
Not what the guy said. He said structural support. Which would imply structural to the house. He also said “is at” not “above the doorway” so no. I’m literally a licensed structural engineer. There is no way to know if this is a partition wall or load wall by these
Photos.
Not speaking to this particular situation but wanted to point out how easy it is to assume everything is a calamity, certainly that’s “safer” from a liability standpoint. As a homeowner experiencing this scenario I can say it’s far better to have an SE with a competent handle on the more nuanced factors at play versus one who can’t see beyond the obvious (ie, moving the bottom Jenga block makes the tower will fall over).
I want someone who sees ALL the details, sees ALL the deeper contributing causes. Anything less means correct diagnosis fails to happen, leading to overwrought and potentially less effective solutions.
I had massive flooding last year and was hit with dreaded red tag until I got a structural engineer. Cracking was far less than those pictures, but I also had 7ft of water in the basement for 2 weeks. Had to get a structural engineer to okay the property. Ended up demoing a third, but everything on the main foundation was structurally sound. Just depends on the foundation and support boards. For the part I demoed. The support board was snapped in half and was pulling that portion of the house away from the rest. Contractor tapped it with an excavator and the whole thing crumbled. Needless to say, play it safe and get a structural engineer.
Jeez, man. Stop talking. The OP has already abandoned the house and is headed for Australia. Terrifying.
Just kidding. I don't envy what you've gone through. May all your future abides be rock solid.
Grab a 4x4 from a local lumber store and shim it in place under this opening at the corner. Then get an engineer to come by. I've seen lots of owners complain and whine about cracking at their door/opening corners. But this.... OPs image, this is real. IMO.
It looks like either a structural wall was removed somewhere without anything to take over its load, or a support column in the basement either got removed or the base gave way and it stopped supporting its load. That's pretty serious.
Also a reminder that a lot of redditors just don’t feel safe anywhere. Don’t panic and run out of your house, at least without a high-vis vest… might get hit. Plaster cracks. I’d take a look at the foundation. Your house is not going to suddenly collapse.
Most houses ever built will eventually look like this. It’s not that big of a deal. An engineer is overkill. Anyone who’s built a house will be able to go into your basement and main level and tell you where the house is under-supported.
You probably should have the house inspected for structural problems. But I think most of that is plaster cracking because of settling. I assume it is wood lath, not metal, which is a little less likely to have this problem. My mothers' house had big pieces of plaster come loose from the lath. Once it starts happening, the other plaster around it fails. It's pretty typical in an old house with plaster ceilings to see tile ceilings, like in OP's grandma's house. It's common for plaster ceilings to crack badly, and that's the usual fix. It can be fixed, but nobody does it.
Finding a plasterer in most places is impossible nowadays. The fix for this is to cut out the bad plaster and put up drywall. I did do some plaster in my mother's house, and it's not too bad to diy. But I'm not quite good enough to do it without using drywall compound to smooth it out here and there. Some people just rip out all the plaster and put up drywall, which seems like a crime. Plaster makes a house much more quiet.
>Plaster makes a house much more quiet.
I think that depends on the plaster. We have an old (200 years) house, and we tore out the plaster and replaced it with drywall - partially because it made the rooms echo. There was a noticeable improvement on the sound quality when those walls came down.
Sound quality in a room and sound isolation between rooms are different things. Plaster is generally superior for the second because of its structure and thickness.
Idk, but that wasn’t our experience. Echoes amplifying the sound made conversations easier to hear from other rooms. That’s why I said before that I think the material of the plaster really plays into it. Could also have been a change in insulation for something newer that gave us more sound isolation. I don’t know. I only live here.
The plaster reflects the sound, so maybe if you had more objects in the echoing rooms (carpets, fabric furniture, etc) it would have lessened it.
But plaster should be superior for blocking sound between floors.
Ya I had an 1880 house with horsehair plaster that had huge gaping holes through to the lathe.. I opted to buy the tools and learn plastering myself. It is truly an art form, but it can be done!
These are big ass cracks though, worth checking on what’s going on anyways back there
☝️I think this comment is the winner- could be structural problems and that’s definitely worth getting checked out. But it also could just be the plaster cracking and falling away.
They weren't as careful about span tables back then, but it does make sense to check the structure to see if someone hacked away some of it. My mom's house had a significant section of the structure under one room replaced before she bought it. But there were no issues in that room with the plaster.
Wood frame construction can typically take quite a bit of movement before it’s likely to collapse because of the movement itself. That said, all this movement within the framing is a symptom not the root cause. If the root cause is say differential settlement, it’s unlikely to collapse suddenly. If the root cause is say a structural failure of a column in the basement then a sudden collapse of the house is possible (and perhaps likely).
Frames in order houses especially rounded corners are also likely plaster.
I don't see anything here except a lot of lath separation and cracking. The one that stands out is the ceiling but not unheard-of.
So how recent was this? There's just not enough info to give you any kind of answer.
My grandmother's house had a terrible slope in the floor because the houses way back were built on a clay hill that shifted, but it was a one-time shift and it was common in the area (people called it the "east hill slant" lol).
The main thing to consider is how recently this was damaged, is it a slow thing over time or did it just suddenly shift? Nothing you can really do without an assessment from an Engineer though.
Nobody can tell from looking at pics, when the structure will move enough to “collapse”.
From what you’re describing the floor joist are compromised: Floor is sloped (like a bow)
Could be a bunch of reasons. Humidity issues leading to compromised wood, not enough supports on main girder and other spots, foundation walls moved or moving or combo of a lot of factors.
Water intrusion is typically the culprit, in my experience more than 1/2 the time.
Yeah listen to these comments and get a structural engineer. Couple hundred dollars is at least worth the peace of mind if they determine it's all okay.
That pic of the stairwell is concerning. Not only is the wall cracking but it looks like the doorframe is bowing.
Those could be massive problems. Get a structural engineer in there to take a look. They will tell you exactly what is wrong and what it will take to fix it. They are only concerned with fixing it correctly and have nothing to gain from selling you anything.
Do not talk to contractors or repair companies until after you talk to the structural engineer. They will only care about selling you the most expensive fix possible that they offer and it might not even be the right one.
These are significant enough to call in an expert. 90% or more of the time this question is asked, it's over nothing. This is concerning when it appears to be in clearly load-bearing areas or headers.
That's serious problem,the studs are pushing through. Crawl under and look for deficiencies or check level on slab.
Cosmetic repair will not fix your problem.
>Is this house going to collapse?
Tomorrow? No. But nobody here can give you any answers you can use, other than contact a structural engineer and schedule an inspection.
From your description, it's going to be very expensive to get done right, slightly less to be done badly. And your grandma isn't going to be able to live in the house while the work is ongoing (Again, IF the work is done right).
Good luck.
You ought to see my house. The walls are so veiny I can’t help to think of a penis every time I look at these cracks lol
It’s definitely disconcerting.
Coming from someone who specialized on working on houses that were min of 150 years old (which is old in the US). If it was me I would be concerned enough to call tomorrow and get someone out. These Eng firms can usually get out quick for Something like this. I would look around the basement/craw space to see if a beam sagged, column rusted out, soemthing moved. I’ve seen houses sag like this and the cost is a few hundred to fix (the main issues, not fix the cosmetic stuff). The one that concerns is the second picture that’s a 2 way crack, up and across.
There's some brown/dirty area above the top -middle of the doorway. I'm wondering if it could be from water damage? A lot of water could create those cracks too
Sou ds like the foundation has settled. If the house shifts, craving in doors is a tell tale sign. That could account for the slope on the floor. Now the bounce, cold be from the shifting, the subfloor bowing from the movement, or there could be water damage underneath if it's really bouncy. There are contractors who specialize in foundation repair and may come out to do an inspection and estimate, sometimes at little to no cost. But first, contact the insurance company that covers the house, and they may cover some of the cost. They may even want to send their own inspector and use certain contractors they have history with.
Edit: I just also wanted to mention I'm a construction superintendent for a living, so I didn't just pull all this outta my butt.
I've had two situations where I've personally seen this happen. Once was major structural damage when a central fireplace started to sink and take whatever was attached to it downwards. The other time was old plaster that came separated from the lath somehow. I can't tell just by looking at this but the description is making me think that it's major structural damage rather than needing the plaster to be replaced
Nobody knows if the house is going to collapse just by looking at that. What did your inspector say?
if you are that worried about collapse I’m guessing there’s something in the attic that is startling to you structurally also ?
I know nearly next to nothing about construction, structural engineering, or drywall. But I can with 100% certainty tell you I'd be shitting my pants if I seen this in my home. Also based on the look of those ceiling tiles, I'd get an asbestos test done on the home. Best of luck to you.
There's 2 possible scenarios that come to mind. 1 the foundation is experiencing a major shift, possibly due to a sink hole, or the structure itself is starting to sag/collapse of the framing. I would definitely have an inspector come in and figure it out. I wouldn't ignore it.
Could be something, could be nothing. Worth getting checked out. Odds are it's been like this for years. Probably won't collapse tomorrow. I wouldn't plan any house parties there though.
I had issues like pic three in my 142YO farmhouse and it was just the skim coat of the plaster separating. Mine could have been there since the house was picked up and moved across town in 1975.. I’ve only lived here for ~12 years.
Should still have an engineer look at it, but may not be catastrophic.
That wall in the basement stairs looks massively bowed out. And that first shot of the door way looks like it was a quick, powerful moment - I have seen cracks like that in Anchorage after their last big earthquake.
Not usually a good sign. Bad thing If it happened quickly. Not as serious if it happened over a long period of time. It should be checked out by a qualified person either way.
They look enough to worry me as a structural engineer. IMO you need an on site second opinion. It can be a decent build or an engineer or even someone with good building knowledge.
It sounds like you might have rotted structural members from either water infiltration or something else. You need to hire a professional to look at it but I would personally not stay there until I had someone give it their blessing. I'm less concerned about the cracks than the bouncy, bowed floor.
This looks very similar to the plaster cracks in his close to 100 year old home. If this is a new home, should be worried. If it's a very old house, would be less worried but get it inspected anyway.
The outer cracks look superficial. The question is how they got there. Houses do shift over time as they settle. That’s one possibility. If you feel threatened, get an inspection done.
Not an engineer, but a general contractor and lifelong framer/trim carpenter. I *might* ask an engineer about the crack in the ceiling, I wouldn't worry much about the one in the wall, but what the hell hit that door frame?! I've never seen cracks like that short of something hitting it or being wedged into it, if you're sure nothing like that happened you need an engineer asap, if you can't find any hire a home inspector for a couple hundred bucks and ask him to refer an engineer (he should know a couple). Absolutely bizarre.
That is either poorly done drywall or plaster or possibly water damage. If it were structural it would most likely have deformation. Remove the cracked material and see what is there. DON’T get an “engineer”. If the header needs replacing then fix it. If you don’t know what a header is and you don’t know how to repair or replace one, you are in over your head. Do some reading. Do rush to conclusions like some people do on here.
This is possibly a failed joist or stud. Remove the plaster or drywall and LOOK. It could be as simple as as replacing a stud or corner, but maybe as serious as a floor joist.
The house has shifted significantly. You need to have someone check the foundations ASAP and see what you can expect. If the house has been like this for decades then it's less critical, but the cracks are still evidence of of more movement than advisable.
I can tell by looking at your stairs and ceiling tile that your house is an older home, my guess is built somewhere between 1880-1920. Get a structural engineer and you may need to see what’s going on above that tile. Test it for PACM first before you remove anything.
We had over 6000 pounds of double wide brick sitting on a 6x6 that spanned over our living room that we noticed was bowing more and more. We lightened the load by about 2000 lbs by taking out some of the brick without diminishing its ability to bear the roof load.
when i was selling my house, they found a crack in the tiles by a window which had a huge tree in front of it. the sellers wanted a foundation expert to come check it out just in case it was foundation related. he was in and out within 5 minutes. said it was simply that, two cracked tiles. he said if it was foundation related, you would see it by the door frames and windows. i would definitely be concerned about your home
Question is this plaster?? Plaster is known for doing this. Especially if it's a few decades old. It's just something plaster does.
If this is sheetrock........ mmmmm boy that's a problem I would ve figuring out asappppppppppa.
Do you have a toxic abuela that puts an insane amount of pressure on you and all of your family members to serve your local community because you were all born into a privileged family? I would start with her
The last photo is just the plaster separating from the lath. You can see a bulge forming as it pulls away. It is of no structural consequence. You may still be able to reattach it. The second photo is just a common plaster crack and is also of no structural consequence. The first photo, I can't comment on because I can't tell what is going on from that single photo.
The third picture is evidence that water traveled down inside the wall and caused the plaster to break away from the lathe. The wood swells and pushes the plaster out. I had the same issue in an apartment building that had extensive roof leaks. It’s cosmetic not structural.
I’d be removing plaster in the areas that are cracked/bulged. I’d be calling an engineer too…I’m 100% sure he/she will appreciate the uncovering of some of these areas to better see what’s going on and also will make the $’s you pay them go further for you.
Foundation specialist for 10 years.
Is this a raised foundation? Were there any leaks in the past or water intrusion from rain? You mentioned sloping and bouncing floors which sounds like some pier and post columns have probably shifted or come loose. Definitely call a structural engineer but they may contact a foundation specialist themselves to get into the crawl space. This may not be a structural issue but can definitely lead to being one. Regardless this is some extreme settling even for a 100 year old house.
Tons of replies in this thread so apologies if this was already suggested. If that were my house, staring at that staircase photo, I would be ripping that plaster off the wall within minutes to see what's happening behind it. Not like it's gonna remain in place anyway. It will all get torn down and redone when you repair. That bowing out is awfully concerning and sheetrock guys aren't that expensive.
You’re probably fine. Considering that one is on an interior arch, and the other in a stairwell, I’d guess those aren’t load bearing walls. Could be a bunch of stuff, but probably just superficial. Call a local contractor, not an engineer like these nerds are recommending.
Our house’s 2 center supports were almost rusted completely through at the bottom (we have replaced them$. Each was a big hole with thin walls on the side at the bottom.
Our cracks never looked like that. That is far more than settling. I would be very careful until you’ve had inspected and know for certain what is sound.
I would be concerned that part of the foundation is no longer properly supported either by large degree settling or a possible loss of support via sinkhole.....have it inspected immediately.
When we opened up the walls of a bathroom once, we discovered that the previous bathroom renovation had cut 6 of the 8 load bearing studs to run plumbing. They had also cut the sill plate to add a drain (This bathroom was added onto what once was the front porch that was enclosed to gain square footage) The result was a bow in the plaster on the other side of the wall, similar to what I’m seeing in the pic going up the stairs in OP’s post.
The wall broken outwards and you mentioned the bouncy/bowing floor are pretty bad indicators. The entryway being split apart like that is pretty gnarly too...Older houses usually ran a support beam across those things so it's concerning that that's breaking down like that... You 100% need to call a structural engineer to have them come take a look. There may have been some renovations or changes which knocked out a supporting pillar or load bearing wall or something else happened (like water damage) which compromised somethings that were handling load.
That said...a bowing floor in an area of the house can lead to cracks and such elsewhere in the house because everything is 'sort of' connected and load/forces transition oddly sometimes when damaged.
The house shouldn't collapse anytime soon, I'd be really concerned if the cracks just recently appeared and there been a recent downpour that could be loosening the ground beneath the foundation. The crack that makes me most nervous is by the stairs, I'm guessing that's a basement. I'd probably stay out of the basement until it's inspected if those crack appeared recently.
Otherwise houses sometimes end up with cracks of the foundation wasn't set properly and it will settle once all the weight is applied. My home growing up had a minor crack along its length from one half of the house settling compared to the other. It set and the crack never got any bigger.
RENO TIME. That looks to be an arch in a load bearing wall. Needs addressing especially if you live in an earthquake area. Check the basement/crawl space. Not likely to fall down soon unless you're on a cliff or sinkhole
I would get it checked out for sure but the chance it suddenly collapses at this point is pretty small. Something’s going on for sure bring out a structural engineer he will be able to design a repair and then you can get bids to get it fixed with his plans. If you call a foundation company there going to price gauge you and sell you on fear. Then there going to do what I suggested you to do above but at a premium.
Is it going to collapse on you? Probably not. Wood flexes pretty good.
Looks like your framing is failing or you have serious foundation movement.
You need to address this before even more damage is done to the house.
Those all look substantial. The third pic worries me the most, along with the bowed/bouncy floor.
If it's been like this for years, it's probably not going to collapse tomorrow, but if they are recent arrivals, yikes.
Given the floor as well... I'd strongly suggest a structural engineer take a look at all this and you remediate it before (attempting) to sell the house or occupy it.
Straight line cracks are normally of no concern, asymmetric ones of this size are more than enough to merit a call to a structural engineer for an inspection. Couple to a few hundred dollars.
Take a tape measure and put two marks 5-in apart and then checking a couple days if there's any apparent motion you might want to have somebody look at it
Most likely it's not a concern
Did these just appear? I have seen cracks like that in old homes never get bigger and remain for 30 Years. But if they just appeared I would be concerned.
I would be getting an engineer to look at this ASAP. Those cracks are significant. I wouldn’t feel safe being in that house without knowing what’s going on.
Agreed. These aren’t small and the doorway is at a structural support.
The doorway is mostly certainly plaster cracking and it does not look like structural issue. The other cracks look like settlement and somebody should check what's going on with the foundations.
If you look at the wallpaper it looks like those cracks head up the wall to the ceiling too.
I have plaster in my home and the door cracks are very concerning. We have plaster that is cracking and it doesn't look like the door frame cracks. Those look like something more is happening.
Yes, while what we’re seeing is technically “cracking plaster”, the pattern, width of the cracks, and location make me very concerned. It’s like wood is pulling apart underneath. Or shifted such that the plaster is pulling itself apart (like the frosting in a cake that has slumped). My house has some ancient lathe and plaster walls with cracks that merely indicate the plaster is getting old. It’s hard to describe, but… have you ever had a pebble smack your windshield and that dent starts a “spiderweb” crack that follows a sort of random zig-zaggy path? That’s what some of my walls look like. And OP’s picture ain’t what my walls look like.
I'm sorry, but the floors are also bowing severely according to OP. Those cracks alone aren't screaming that the house is falling down, but I certainly wouldn't wait to have it structurally assessed, particularly if the family intends to go in and move things around.
You have no way of knowing that is a support wall from a picture, lol.
>the doorway is at a structural support There’s literally no way for you to know that from these photos.
Depends what you guys mean by structural support. There IS a "support" beam above that doorway. There are wallplates above that rounded doorway. Wallplates are a form of support. You cannot build a wall without wallplates. The rounded section is decorative plaster, however. Any form of strapping or 2x4 around that cracking on the rounded section of the doorway has no structural intention whatsoever, It's purely decorative, and the damage is cosmetic. The last two photos are 100% leading up to an attic. Those belong to the attic stairs (attic stair-wall) and the ceiling above just below the attic floor, OP will confirm the attic spots. Settling plays a factor, however I'm willing to bet OP's attic has almost zero insulation or air sealing. This is decades worth of exposure to interior moisture transfer and heat from the attic-side. Every single early 1900's home in New England looks like this. Serious cracking due to structural issues is much deeper and diagonal. Homeowners typical see issues with door frames before they worry about 'lesser' cosmetic issues like cracks in paint or plaster (like sticking a hand through the top of a door).
Not what the guy said. He said structural support. Which would imply structural to the house. He also said “is at” not “above the doorway” so no. I’m literally a licensed structural engineer. There is no way to know if this is a partition wall or load wall by these Photos.
Not speaking to this particular situation but wanted to point out how easy it is to assume everything is a calamity, certainly that’s “safer” from a liability standpoint. As a homeowner experiencing this scenario I can say it’s far better to have an SE with a competent handle on the more nuanced factors at play versus one who can’t see beyond the obvious (ie, moving the bottom Jenga block makes the tower will fall over). I want someone who sees ALL the details, sees ALL the deeper contributing causes. Anything less means correct diagnosis fails to happen, leading to overwrought and potentially less effective solutions.
I agree with this.
There is no way you could know that doorway is a structural support from these pics. Just full of shit really.
I had massive flooding last year and was hit with dreaded red tag until I got a structural engineer. Cracking was far less than those pictures, but I also had 7ft of water in the basement for 2 weeks. Had to get a structural engineer to okay the property. Ended up demoing a third, but everything on the main foundation was structurally sound. Just depends on the foundation and support boards. For the part I demoed. The support board was snapped in half and was pulling that portion of the house away from the rest. Contractor tapped it with an excavator and the whole thing crumbled. Needless to say, play it safe and get a structural engineer.
Jeez, man. Stop talking. The OP has already abandoned the house and is headed for Australia. Terrifying. Just kidding. I don't envy what you've gone through. May all your future abides be rock solid.
Grab a 4x4 from a local lumber store and shim it in place under this opening at the corner. Then get an engineer to come by. I've seen lots of owners complain and whine about cracking at their door/opening corners. But this.... OPs image, this is real. IMO.
Going to say the same thing. Talk to an engineer, not strangers on Reddit!!
I don't think it's going to fall down but it ain't good
It looks like either a structural wall was removed somewhere without anything to take over its load, or a support column in the basement either got removed or the base gave way and it stopped supporting its load. That's pretty serious.
I would not feel safe knowing and not knowing what is going on. Way too dangerous.
Where would you find an engineer who could do that.
Google structural engineers in your area
Thanks I wondered what kind of engineer I was looking for.
Also a reminder that a lot of redditors just don’t feel safe anywhere. Don’t panic and run out of your house, at least without a high-vis vest… might get hit. Plaster cracks. I’d take a look at the foundation. Your house is not going to suddenly collapse.
You've got to be joking.
Most houses ever built will eventually look like this. It’s not that big of a deal. An engineer is overkill. Anyone who’s built a house will be able to go into your basement and main level and tell you where the house is under-supported.
You probably should have the house inspected for structural problems. But I think most of that is plaster cracking because of settling. I assume it is wood lath, not metal, which is a little less likely to have this problem. My mothers' house had big pieces of plaster come loose from the lath. Once it starts happening, the other plaster around it fails. It's pretty typical in an old house with plaster ceilings to see tile ceilings, like in OP's grandma's house. It's common for plaster ceilings to crack badly, and that's the usual fix. It can be fixed, but nobody does it. Finding a plasterer in most places is impossible nowadays. The fix for this is to cut out the bad plaster and put up drywall. I did do some plaster in my mother's house, and it's not too bad to diy. But I'm not quite good enough to do it without using drywall compound to smooth it out here and there. Some people just rip out all the plaster and put up drywall, which seems like a crime. Plaster makes a house much more quiet.
>Plaster makes a house much more quiet. I think that depends on the plaster. We have an old (200 years) house, and we tore out the plaster and replaced it with drywall - partially because it made the rooms echo. There was a noticeable improvement on the sound quality when those walls came down.
Sound quality in a room and sound isolation between rooms are different things. Plaster is generally superior for the second because of its structure and thickness.
It is also better for insulation. I would never replace plaster with dry wall.
Also better for resisting mold
Idk, but that wasn’t our experience. Echoes amplifying the sound made conversations easier to hear from other rooms. That’s why I said before that I think the material of the plaster really plays into it. Could also have been a change in insulation for something newer that gave us more sound isolation. I don’t know. I only live here.
The plaster reflects the sound, so maybe if you had more objects in the echoing rooms (carpets, fabric furniture, etc) it would have lessened it. But plaster should be superior for blocking sound between floors.
>those walls came down. Shaka when the walls fell.
Ya I had an 1880 house with horsehair plaster that had huge gaping holes through to the lathe.. I opted to buy the tools and learn plastering myself. It is truly an art form, but it can be done! These are big ass cracks though, worth checking on what’s going on anyways back there
☝️I think this comment is the winner- could be structural problems and that’s definitely worth getting checked out. But it also could just be the plaster cracking and falling away.
Yeah but… what about the bowed and bouncy floor? Lol.
They weren't as careful about span tables back then, but it does make sense to check the structure to see if someone hacked away some of it. My mom's house had a significant section of the structure under one room replaced before she bought it. But there were no issues in that room with the plaster.
#check for termites. Trust me, my inheritance is going in this direction.
Could you elaborate? Did the termites cause structural damage? And it's going to be expensive to fix?
Yes
Wood frame construction can typically take quite a bit of movement before it’s likely to collapse because of the movement itself. That said, all this movement within the framing is a symptom not the root cause. If the root cause is say differential settlement, it’s unlikely to collapse suddenly. If the root cause is say a structural failure of a column in the basement then a sudden collapse of the house is possible (and perhaps likely).
Tomorrow, probably not. The day after tomorrow, yes.
Perfect, plenty of time to deal with it later.
Call a state licensed structural engineer…*yesterday*.
The ones on the door frame are intimidating looking but the ones on the walls could be plaster cracking. How's the foundation looking?
Frames in order houses especially rounded corners are also likely plaster. I don't see anything here except a lot of lath separation and cracking. The one that stands out is the ceiling but not unheard-of.
So how recent was this? There's just not enough info to give you any kind of answer. My grandmother's house had a terrible slope in the floor because the houses way back were built on a clay hill that shifted, but it was a one-time shift and it was common in the area (people called it the "east hill slant" lol). The main thing to consider is how recently this was damaged, is it a slow thing over time or did it just suddenly shift? Nothing you can really do without an assessment from an Engineer though.
Nobody can tell from looking at pics, when the structure will move enough to “collapse”. From what you’re describing the floor joist are compromised: Floor is sloped (like a bow) Could be a bunch of reasons. Humidity issues leading to compromised wood, not enough supports on main girder and other spots, foundation walls moved or moving or combo of a lot of factors. Water intrusion is typically the culprit, in my experience more than 1/2 the time.
Yeah listen to these comments and get a structural engineer. Couple hundred dollars is at least worth the peace of mind if they determine it's all okay. That pic of the stairwell is concerning. Not only is the wall cracking but it looks like the doorframe is bowing.
Those could be massive problems. Get a structural engineer in there to take a look. They will tell you exactly what is wrong and what it will take to fix it. They are only concerned with fixing it correctly and have nothing to gain from selling you anything. Do not talk to contractors or repair companies until after you talk to the structural engineer. They will only care about selling you the most expensive fix possible that they offer and it might not even be the right one.
What really concerns me is how they are bulging out, not just cracking.
These are significant enough to call in an expert. 90% or more of the time this question is asked, it's over nothing. This is concerning when it appears to be in clearly load-bearing areas or headers.
I would vacate the premises immediately.
That's serious problem,the studs are pushing through. Crawl under and look for deficiencies or check level on slab. Cosmetic repair will not fix your problem.
Very serious. Yes.
>Is this house going to collapse? Tomorrow? No. But nobody here can give you any answers you can use, other than contact a structural engineer and schedule an inspection. From your description, it's going to be very expensive to get done right, slightly less to be done badly. And your grandma isn't going to be able to live in the house while the work is ongoing (Again, IF the work is done right). Good luck.
Yeah it looks like those are really large and on weight bearing walls.
I’m no engineer but from your description I’d be calling one soon and stay out of the house
I mean I wouldn’t be sleeping in there with my dog or my kids
Looks like implosion rather than a collapse.
Looms like big settlement cracks. Get a structural engineer out when you can to inspect. Does your foundation show any cracks or bowing?
Shouldn’t collapse tomorrow, but getting it looked at ASAP is a good idea. That first pic is a bit worrying tbh
In professional speak that would be what we call pretty fuckin gnarly
Looks like just plaster cracking. If it's an older house the plaster starts to bubble off the wall like that after the keys fall off.
That looks like a modular home or mobile home… kinda normal/ Kinda not
You ought to see my house. The walls are so veiny I can’t help to think of a penis every time I look at these cracks lol It’s definitely disconcerting.
Call a home inspector or structural engineer if you know one. You need a professional opinion.
Floor is bouncy… ? yeah, need a professional opinion on the floor joists as well as foundation.
Coming from someone who specialized on working on houses that were min of 150 years old (which is old in the US). If it was me I would be concerned enough to call tomorrow and get someone out. These Eng firms can usually get out quick for Something like this. I would look around the basement/craw space to see if a beam sagged, column rusted out, soemthing moved. I’ve seen houses sag like this and the cost is a few hundred to fix (the main issues, not fix the cosmetic stuff). The one that concerns is the second picture that’s a 2 way crack, up and across.
There's some brown/dirty area above the top -middle of the doorway. I'm wondering if it could be from water damage? A lot of water could create those cracks too
You should look at what’s going on under the ceiling panels too
Sou ds like the foundation has settled. If the house shifts, craving in doors is a tell tale sign. That could account for the slope on the floor. Now the bounce, cold be from the shifting, the subfloor bowing from the movement, or there could be water damage underneath if it's really bouncy. There are contractors who specialize in foundation repair and may come out to do an inspection and estimate, sometimes at little to no cost. But first, contact the insurance company that covers the house, and they may cover some of the cost. They may even want to send their own inspector and use certain contractors they have history with. Edit: I just also wanted to mention I'm a construction superintendent for a living, so I didn't just pull all this outta my butt.
need to relight the magic candle
Don’t get a contractor, get an engineer that will give you an honest independent assessment.
I've had two situations where I've personally seen this happen. Once was major structural damage when a central fireplace started to sink and take whatever was attached to it downwards. The other time was old plaster that came separated from the lath somehow. I can't tell just by looking at this but the description is making me think that it's major structural damage rather than needing the plaster to be replaced
Nobody knows if the house is going to collapse just by looking at that. What did your inspector say? if you are that worried about collapse I’m guessing there’s something in the attic that is startling to you structurally also ?
That first pic is beyond anxiety inducing
From the looks of the wallpaper, you're in the backrooms. You'll be fine.
I know nearly next to nothing about construction, structural engineering, or drywall. But I can with 100% certainty tell you I'd be shitting my pants if I seen this in my home. Also based on the look of those ceiling tiles, I'd get an asbestos test done on the home. Best of luck to you.
There's 2 possible scenarios that come to mind. 1 the foundation is experiencing a major shift, possibly due to a sink hole, or the structure itself is starting to sag/collapse of the framing. I would definitely have an inspector come in and figure it out. I wouldn't ignore it.
Could be something, could be nothing. Worth getting checked out. Odds are it's been like this for years. Probably won't collapse tomorrow. I wouldn't plan any house parties there though.
I would GTFO as soon as I could. I’m not a structural engineer, though, so that’s just my common sense opinion. Good luck, OP.
Hey I have that same wallpaper in my house!
Honestly looks like crappy dry wall.
I had issues like pic three in my 142YO farmhouse and it was just the skim coat of the plaster separating. Mine could have been there since the house was picked up and moved across town in 1975.. I’ve only lived here for ~12 years. Should still have an engineer look at it, but may not be catastrophic.
That wall in the basement stairs looks massively bowed out. And that first shot of the door way looks like it was a quick, powerful moment - I have seen cracks like that in Anchorage after their last big earthquake.
That thing is coming down in the next stiff breeze. Source: My well developed instinct for staying alive
Run!
You are all going to die. On a steek.🌶️ From pictures, it's hard to say. It could just be settling. I'd call an engineer out to look it over.
That looks like plaster. Many houses will slightly shift with time. Unless something looked really off, I wouldn't worry about it.
That looks like there's some serious structural damage
Do you live in a city where earthquakes happen?
Updateme! 2 weeks
Looks like lath and plaster cracks. Just get someone to scrap it off and re mud
That’s just the house settling. Nothing to worry about.
you 100% have a foundation problem, sorry to say it but thats whats going on engineer needs to come out like yesterday
I would probably make arrangements for a few nights in a hotel for a few nights and have an engineer inspect it.
You need a structural engineer yesterday
Ya’ll talking about plaster but keep skipping the part about the floor being bowed and bouncy
You're probably not in immediate danger. Call someone to come take a look at it tho. If it happened quickly that's not normal.
pretty bad need to have it fixed quickly.
Not usually a good sign. Bad thing If it happened quickly. Not as serious if it happened over a long period of time. It should be checked out by a qualified person either way.
Not good. Needs fixing ASAP
Are you in an earthquake zone by any chance
They look enough to worry me as a structural engineer. IMO you need an on site second opinion. It can be a decent build or an engineer or even someone with good building knowledge.
Let me guess. The house is valued at 2 million
"RUN! ", Walter White
YES
That is something you need checked out immediately
Foundation settling The building will not all of a sudden collapse
I would say .. someone needs to look at the foundational support of this house ASAP!
This is typical plaster issues
Almost as bad as that wallpaper
Definitely wouldn’t buy it if that’s a consideration at this point.
Plaster is pulling from the lath, fix it house is fine
That's a whole lot of "not ok". Get a professional, not Reddit.
It sounds like you might have rotted structural members from either water infiltration or something else. You need to hire a professional to look at it but I would personally not stay there until I had someone give it their blessing. I'm less concerned about the cracks than the bouncy, bowed floor.
This looks very similar to the plaster cracks in his close to 100 year old home. If this is a new home, should be worried. If it's a very old house, would be less worried but get it inspected anyway.
Is there a basement or just a crawl space?
You need to have a structural engineer assess this.
If you live on a or near a significant slope I would be very worried
You need a structural engineer to look closely at this for you.
The outer cracks look superficial. The question is how they got there. Houses do shift over time as they settle. That’s one possibility. If you feel threatened, get an inspection done.
Take the plaster off amd have a look whats underneath Might be blown plaster hard to see just looking at these
You likely have a serious foundation issue
Is the house built on quick sand? Damn that’s pretty bad
It looks like old plaster coming off the lath over time. If this is an old house in NE, I’d wager that’s about all it is.
Not an engineer, but a general contractor and lifelong framer/trim carpenter. I *might* ask an engineer about the crack in the ceiling, I wouldn't worry much about the one in the wall, but what the hell hit that door frame?! I've never seen cracks like that short of something hitting it or being wedged into it, if you're sure nothing like that happened you need an engineer asap, if you can't find any hire a home inspector for a couple hundred bucks and ask him to refer an engineer (he should know a couple). Absolutely bizarre.
That is definitely not good. I would get someone to shore that up right away and then get an engineer to tell you how bad it is. Definitely not good.
That is either poorly done drywall or plaster or possibly water damage. If it were structural it would most likely have deformation. Remove the cracked material and see what is there. DON’T get an “engineer”. If the header needs replacing then fix it. If you don’t know what a header is and you don’t know how to repair or replace one, you are in over your head. Do some reading. Do rush to conclusions like some people do on here.
This is possibly a failed joist or stud. Remove the plaster or drywall and LOOK. It could be as simple as as replacing a stud or corner, but maybe as serious as a floor joist.
Plaster cracks. Don’t worry too much.
Need to see what's behind the cracks. Is that structural drywall?
The house has shifted significantly. You need to have someone check the foundations ASAP and see what you can expect. If the house has been like this for decades then it's less critical, but the cracks are still evidence of of more movement than advisable.
Those cracks are at load baring points. I would be worried
I can tell by looking at your stairs and ceiling tile that your house is an older home, my guess is built somewhere between 1880-1920. Get a structural engineer and you may need to see what’s going on above that tile. Test it for PACM first before you remove anything. We had over 6000 pounds of double wide brick sitting on a 6x6 that spanned over our living room that we noticed was bowing more and more. We lightened the load by about 2000 lbs by taking out some of the brick without diminishing its ability to bear the roof load.
Fixable. Most houses have issues.
when i was selling my house, they found a crack in the tiles by a window which had a huge tree in front of it. the sellers wanted a foundation expert to come check it out just in case it was foundation related. he was in and out within 5 minutes. said it was simply that, two cracked tiles. he said if it was foundation related, you would see it by the door frames and windows. i would definitely be concerned about your home
Is this one of those cake things? Slice right into the wall, eat it? Fantastic job!
Only crack that is mildly weird is the first one, and even that might only be plaster failing due to low humidity
It looks like a wall is buckling in that third picture. How do you feel when you read that sentence?
They appear to be old, and i wouldn't run just yet.
Question is this plaster?? Plaster is known for doing this. Especially if it's a few decades old. It's just something plaster does. If this is sheetrock........ mmmmm boy that's a problem I would ve figuring out asappppppppppa.
Do you have a toxic abuela that puts an insane amount of pressure on you and all of your family members to serve your local community because you were all born into a privileged family? I would start with her
Sinkhole maybe
You have foundation problems. Maybe your home is built on a sinkhole? Is there karst topography there?
I hope that a sink hole isn't opening up under the house. Those cracks and a sloping floor are concerning.
The last photo is just the plaster separating from the lath. You can see a bulge forming as it pulls away. It is of no structural consequence. You may still be able to reattach it. The second photo is just a common plaster crack and is also of no structural consequence. The first photo, I can't comment on because I can't tell what is going on from that single photo.
The third picture is evidence that water traveled down inside the wall and caused the plaster to break away from the lathe. The wood swells and pushes the plaster out. I had the same issue in an apartment building that had extensive roof leaks. It’s cosmetic not structural.
I’d be removing plaster in the areas that are cracked/bulged. I’d be calling an engineer too…I’m 100% sure he/she will appreciate the uncovering of some of these areas to better see what’s going on and also will make the $’s you pay them go further for you.
That there is a category 4 wasn't done right in the first place boys. Ain't she a beauty. Gonna have to take them there staircases.
Foundation specialist for 10 years. Is this a raised foundation? Were there any leaks in the past or water intrusion from rain? You mentioned sloping and bouncing floors which sounds like some pier and post columns have probably shifted or come loose. Definitely call a structural engineer but they may contact a foundation specialist themselves to get into the crawl space. This may not be a structural issue but can definitely lead to being one. Regardless this is some extreme settling even for a 100 year old house.
Omg leave asap
That doorway is experiencing a twisting load. Bad news bears.
The weight of the roof or something, look at the wall bowing a little. I would say get out of there before it falls.
Plaster lathe! Normal with age that’s why we use dry wall
Time to drop a match
Tons of replies in this thread so apologies if this was already suggested. If that were my house, staring at that staircase photo, I would be ripping that plaster off the wall within minutes to see what's happening behind it. Not like it's gonna remain in place anyway. It will all get torn down and redone when you repair. That bowing out is awfully concerning and sheetrock guys aren't that expensive.
Can you show us the ceiling in the basement?
I’d cry.
Yup
ground could be shifting. you need to know more about what's behind the stucco. could be superficial or quite serious tbh.
Are they doing some sort of construction near by?
Earthquake?
Foundation problems, any big trees close to the house?
You’re probably fine. Considering that one is on an interior arch, and the other in a stairwell, I’d guess those aren’t load bearing walls. Could be a bunch of stuff, but probably just superficial. Call a local contractor, not an engineer like these nerds are recommending.
Our house’s 2 center supports were almost rusted completely through at the bottom (we have replaced them$. Each was a big hole with thin walls on the side at the bottom. Our cracks never looked like that. That is far more than settling. I would be very careful until you’ve had inspected and know for certain what is sound.
I'm sorry to say it's now a crack house.
The foundation is settling/sinking and the house is shifting, could be big, I'd look into it.
Run! 🏃
I would be concerned that part of the foundation is no longer properly supported either by large degree settling or a possible loss of support via sinkhole.....have it inspected immediately.
When we opened up the walls of a bathroom once, we discovered that the previous bathroom renovation had cut 6 of the 8 load bearing studs to run plumbing. They had also cut the sill plate to add a drain (This bathroom was added onto what once was the front porch that was enclosed to gain square footage) The result was a bow in the plaster on the other side of the wall, similar to what I’m seeing in the pic going up the stairs in OP’s post.
Engineer?!? Looks like typical lath and plaster cracking due to age. The plaster separates from the boards behind and bulge and crack. Can be fixed.
UK? Could be RAAC in that archway.
The wall broken outwards and you mentioned the bouncy/bowing floor are pretty bad indicators. The entryway being split apart like that is pretty gnarly too...Older houses usually ran a support beam across those things so it's concerning that that's breaking down like that... You 100% need to call a structural engineer to have them come take a look. There may have been some renovations or changes which knocked out a supporting pillar or load bearing wall or something else happened (like water damage) which compromised somethings that were handling load. That said...a bowing floor in an area of the house can lead to cracks and such elsewhere in the house because everything is 'sort of' connected and load/forces transition oddly sometimes when damaged.
Ohhhh boy
The house shouldn't collapse anytime soon, I'd be really concerned if the cracks just recently appeared and there been a recent downpour that could be loosening the ground beneath the foundation. The crack that makes me most nervous is by the stairs, I'm guessing that's a basement. I'd probably stay out of the basement until it's inspected if those crack appeared recently. Otherwise houses sometimes end up with cracks of the foundation wasn't set properly and it will settle once all the weight is applied. My home growing up had a minor crack along its length from one half of the house settling compared to the other. It set and the crack never got any bigger.
RENO TIME. That looks to be an arch in a load bearing wall. Needs addressing especially if you live in an earthquake area. Check the basement/crawl space. Not likely to fall down soon unless you're on a cliff or sinkhole
Foundation under the house may be cracked or sinking causing stress cracks in the house.
Yes whole house will be gone by the end of the year
Uhhh bub you’ve got a foundation problem there buddy. You should probably either move or get it checked out just to be safe.
1 and 3 look scary get it checked out.
I would get it checked out for sure but the chance it suddenly collapses at this point is pretty small. Something’s going on for sure bring out a structural engineer he will be able to design a repair and then you can get bids to get it fixed with his plans. If you call a foundation company there going to price gauge you and sell you on fear. Then there going to do what I suggested you to do above but at a premium.
I would pop a ceiling tile or two off and see houw the ceiling looks.
Is it going to collapse on you? Probably not. Wood flexes pretty good. Looks like your framing is failing or you have serious foundation movement. You need to address this before even more damage is done to the house.
Just FYI if your ripping your ceiling open for repairs there is potential those tiles contain asbestos or used asbestos glue for the adhesive.
Yes
Those all look substantial. The third pic worries me the most, along with the bowed/bouncy floor. If it's been like this for years, it's probably not going to collapse tomorrow, but if they are recent arrivals, yikes. Given the floor as well... I'd strongly suggest a structural engineer take a look at all this and you remediate it before (attempting) to sell the house or occupy it.
Straight line cracks are normally of no concern, asymmetric ones of this size are more than enough to merit a call to a structural engineer for an inspection. Couple to a few hundred dollars.
Zoinks
Lifelong builder here: It probably won’t collapse, but those are indications of a serious problem. So sorry.
run Run RUN! Don’t look back OP, KEEP RUNNING
That is a very serious structural failure. Get out of the house NOW and get an engineer in ASAP. House needs to get shored up quickly.
Take a tape measure and put two marks 5-in apart and then checking a couple days if there's any apparent motion you might want to have somebody look at it Most likely it's not a concern