By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
We are selling our home (built in 1955) and are concerned about cracks in some of the ceilings and walls. Could these be caused by structural problems, or might they just be minor? What's the best way to find out? -Stephanie
Dear Stephanie,
Older homes, particularly those with plaster walls, typically have cracks of one kind or another. If these are "hairline" cracks, less than 1/8 inch in width, they are most likely due to normal building stresses. However, there are exceptions. A definite determination of structural stability can only be rendered by a structural engineer, but conditions warranting an engineering evaluation would most likely be discovered by a qualified home inspector. Therefore, you can approach these uncertainties in one of two ways. You can hire you own home inspector or engineer and use the report for disclosure to buyers, or you can wait for the buyers to hire their own inspector. The preferable approach would be to address potential concerns in advance, rather than leaving them to chance.
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