Since adding a small extension to my house 2 years ago, there seems to have been some movement causing a verticle crack in the wall--from inside through to outside. It’s a brick wall covered in plaster. No plaster board. The crack measures about four feet in length beginning at the ceiling--where the width is about 3"; it tapers to about 1” wide at the bottom. How can I best repair it and prevent future cracks?

Any advice would be appreciated.

PS--I've read some other posts that discuss "tape" and "mud."
What are they, as applies to wall repair?

 

Is this crack in the corner? if so, caulking might be the easiest fix.

With drywall you tape and mud the joints. Drywall tape comes on a roll and at first glance resembles masking tape but it doesn't have adhesive and has a crease down the middle which allows you to fold it neatly to use in corners. It is used flat when taping the joints in the middle of a wall/ceiling. The mud is joint compound, it's the 'glue' that holds the tape in place. It's also used to cover the tape over the next couple of coats, sanded when dry = paintable wall.

I just reread your post, is the crack 3" wide?
That's a wide gap! Is the structure stable? Do you know what caused the separation? While it's possible to patch a gap that wide, you need to make sure it won't move anymore.

Could you supply us with a couple of pics?
http://forum.doityourself.com/electr...your-post.html

 

I would use hydraulic cement. Chop out what's loose, first.

 

Thank you, Guys,

For your prompt replies. And to you Marksr for the explanations and link to posting pix (I did try to 'paste' in a photo; didn't work). Anyway, now it's here (I think).



No, the crack is not in a corner. And 3"-wide might be a slight exageration. But the crack is more than 2" wide at the top.

If I fill the gap with cement, I worry that it will crack again. I think it was movement--settling--of the two-year-old structure that caused the crack. But how do I prevent future movement (settling)?

[I STILL do not see the photo. Here is the link: Pictures by pauldee1 - Photobucket

 

Is that a water stain I see running along the crack? if so that [the source of water] needs to be addressed first. What does that area look like on the exterior?

When you say the crack is 2"-3" wide, do you mean deep? It doesn't look that wide in the pic