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dahoov2

Hubby and I disagree on who to call for cracks

dahoov2
9 years ago

So we keep arguing for like 5 years now (husband and I) about the cracks in the house. Our home was built in 1959. It's got several cracks and some are a little worrisome-near door frame/window frame and one that is worrying me is in the hall because it's not a vertical one it's horizontal. It's just plaster maybe though; it's hairline size but it's long. They're not wide-gapped or anything, just plaster hairlines, but hall steps the molding is pulled from the wall a good 1/2". The house probably could use some leveling as the kitchen is a good inch off in places and the kitchen remodeler had some good amount of shimming to do...

Anyway, my husband wants to call in a specialist that deals in cracks. I say no because if you do that, of course they'll find something, they are the ones who want the business and will find it to get your business! I say call in a home inspector. Hubby doesn't want to do that because it's expensive. Plus how do you find a home inspector? When we bought the house, they arranged that...

We've had several contractors doing various things in here including heating/AC people who were under the house etc and they said they didn't see anything and every person in here I've mentioned it to said it's just normal for an older house.

Who should inspect this? Should we even bother? I don't think the house is in danger of collapsing in the next couple decades but you never know I guess. I do know if they "find" something, that could be tens of thousands?

Comments (16)

  • PRO
    Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
    9 years ago

    my husband wants to call in a specialist that deals in cracks

    and who might that be??

  • _sophiewheeler
    9 years ago

    A structural engineer. But if it hasn't fallen down by now, it's not likely to. Have you repaired any of these cracks?

  • tlbean2004
    9 years ago

    Just look for a recommended home inspector online for your area and see what he has to say.

  • PRO
    Joseph Corlett, LLC
    9 years ago

    Hubby is right on this one.

    The fact that your home remains standing 55 years after it was built says much more than any structural engineer ever can.

    Yes, a "crack specialist" (whatever that is) may find more problems. Isn't that what you want him to do? Check reputation and go for it.

  • millworkman
    9 years ago

    Just don't call the guy with the "torch thing you saw on a home show recently".

  • Vertise
    9 years ago

    A specialist. In the business of flagging things and throwing the book at you. Making a mountain out of a mole hill. Using scare tactics.

    Get multiple opinions and research well to protect yourself from the money machine. Wise move, dahoov.

  • dahoov2
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    They have specialists for cracks. One here is this company that is at every fair/home show
    http://www.jeswork.com/ppc/vb-foundation-repair.aspx?gclid=COL3m6S208ICFUKUfgod4hYATw

    Okay smart a** above. I forgot what the torch method of the roof was. But the person knew what it was... geez. They literally melt the stuff on the roof... geez.

    Snookums, that was what I was thinking too and why the disagreement. I wasn't just sure who you call for these things. This company above I posted the link for is the only one I know of around here. They advertise in the paper, mail inserts and are at every single home show and fair here. Whenever I see them, they seem high pressure and I won't go over there; they are always grabbing people who walk by. I hate that!
    .

  • mag77
    9 years ago

    What fifty year old house doesn't have a few cracks? Patch, paint and forget them.

  • ionized_gw
    9 years ago

    You might have some differential settling, sure. Depending on how the foundation is made, you might be able to ameliorate it easily. We don't have enough detail to know. Shoring and foundation repair companies may be able to help, but be sure to get multiple opinions. A consultant engineer might make you feel better since they should be impartial. Home inspection companies often have them or have them on call.

    What are your interior walls made of, plaster board (drywall), rock lath and plaster,...?

  • PRO
    Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
    9 years ago

    quote"A structural engineer. But if it hasn't fallen down by now, it's not likely to. Have you repaired any of these cracks?"
    As a painter, paper hanger, why, yes, probably about a million of them. Any reputable painter, drywall guy,(girl) should be able to fix them.

  • Vertise
    9 years ago

    Lol, I paid to have some fixed a number of times, each time by someone else. They kept cracking again. Not until I fixed them myself did that problem go away.

    Do some how-to research, take care of it yourself and be done with it. It is not difficult and is a good skill to have.

  • Fern_Freak
    9 years ago

    Isnt that what paintings are for?

  • handymac
    9 years ago

    The part about the kitchen being 'off' an inch is much more worisome than the cracks.

    A house settles naturally over time. However, changes in the soil around the foundation/under the slab or crawlspace can increase that movement and create some extra problems.

    The bit about calling a specific company and having them 'sell' you a fix because that is their business is a worry if the company is not trustworthy.

    It sounds to me, from your description, that your problem needs a company that can reinforce the foundation or stabilize the soil compaction under parts of the house. That would be a mud jacking company. They typically have people trained to find the areas of trouble and design a fix using concrete or 'mud' forced into the ground to raise the foundation/slab back into the correct position.

    Done properly, mud jacking will fix the problem. I have seen large buildings mud jacked with good results.

  • elleau
    9 years ago

    Had the same problem as yours. The only difference was mine was much worst - cracks were long and half an inch deep with water spilling through.

    I talked to a builder who is my wife's brother. The brother advised me to just get the thing waterproofed since waterproofing contractors also deal with the cracks.Voila! I just killed two birds in one stone.

  • cindywhitall
    9 years ago

    As far as the kitchen shimming, sometimes houses are just built and stuff is "off". My house is 19 years old. We got granite some years ago and our walls just aren't straight. We decided it was better to go with a 4 inch piece of granite for the backsplash even though we wanted to use ceramic tile down to the counter. The walls were bowed so we were afraid there would be gaps in places.

    We got our floor tiled. The one corner of the kitchen had to have a good inch of leveler, or more, it was really off. I think it was in an area over the main beam. Could be your kitchen needing to be shimmed was normal. But of course, I'm just a homeowner, and haven't seen what needed to be done.

    Maybe a home inspector won't be that much since they won't be inspecting everything like in a home sale. Just call them. Any realtor should be able to refer you to one, or ask a neighbor who has recently moved or is moving who they used.

  • krissie55
    9 years ago

    If the house is on clay soil, you may only need to put a soaker hose about 12"-24" away from foundation to water the foundation. Clay soil will cause the house to shift causing cracks in sheetrock inside.