Are cracks in the inside wall dangerous?

Different cracks can be created on a building and thus also on the inner walls. Quickly, the residents then ask the question of whether these cracks in an inner wall can be dangerous or not. Here are the answers.

Different types of cracks in the inner wall

First of all, there is an all-clear to some extent. Cracks in buildings are relatively normal and can not always be avoided. However, a distinction can be made between dangerous and harmless cracks in an inner wall. Here are the most important cracks in components:

  • settlement cracks
  • stress fractures
  • Shrinkage cracks (in concrete)

Setting cracks in the inner wall can be dangerous

Settlements give rise to a certain risk potential. These cracks indicate that the building does not lower evenly. The cause can be relatively normal again but also a construction error.

Meanwhile, a hydrogeological report is required by law from the pre-planning phase. This also applies if soil assessments already exist for all subsequent properties. However, the scope is not mandatory.

But only with a more in-depth opinion of the reason can be estimated so far that the founding of the building can be aligned. An example. A building is built on clay or clay. The house can sit down for decades. In any case, the question arises as to whether the subsoil did not require deep foundations.

However, these settlement cracks can also occur in a once correctly performed soil survey. In recent decades, a comprehensive environmental awareness has prevailed. This includes drinking water consumption. Here is a lot of savings. At the same time, several municipalities no longer allow the drainage of land through the sewers. In many regions, this means that suddenly there is a high or even depressed groundwater level, where there were no problems in the past.

Stress cracks in the inner wall mostly harmless

Stress cracks often arise from certain properties of components. Thus, different components also have different thermal expansions. This can lead to tensions and, as a consequence, to stress cracks. Most stress cracks are harmless, but not nice.

Shrink cracks in concrete with skepticism

Here, when casting a concrete part, the hardening of the concrete may have been carried out improperly. In particular, for new buildings and load-bearing components, which were just made by a craft business, an independent appraiser should definitely be consulted.

In general, cracks in concrete components can have completely different consequences. Reinforced concrete can be so far torn that steel reinforcements are free in the air or even water penetrates. Corrosion can massively affect the specified load bearing capacity of concrete.

Tips & Tricks

Even ceilings and especially concrete pools may tend to crack. Because like all materials in our world, concrete bends under load. However, since the pressure load is only improved as soon as the existing steel reinforcement is under tension, stress cracks can be normal here. In case of doubt, however, an independent appraiser should always be consulted.

Product Image: Heartkiki / Shutterstock

Video Board: Do Cracks in Walls Mean There's Structural Damage?