House painters in Westchester, NY, are used to being called in to help cover up minor cracks and other defects in a home’s walls. There’s a lot that a new coat of paint can do to freshen up a house, both on the inside and on the outside. However, there’s a limit to what paint can do. In some cases, a crack can be serious enough that it needs to be repaired, rather than simply being covered up.
How can you know the difference between minor cracks and serious cracks? Here are some guidelines to whether you should be calling in skilled painters in Westchester, NY, or a home renovation specialist.
Four Signs Those Cracks in Your Wall Are A Serious Problem
- You have an older house
It’s extremely common for a recently-built house to “settle,” with very slight shifts in the foundation as it compresses the ground below it. In turn, this can cause small cracks to appear in the walls of a house that’s less than a year old.
Past that point, however, the chances grow that it’s a more serious crack which will need professional repair.
- Cracks are wider than approximately 5mm (1/5th of an inch)
The wider the crack, the more likely that it’s a real problem. The space within the gap of the crack is a good indicator. Minor cracks usually have very tight gaps, only around 1mm or so. Once the crack is wider than 5mm, that’s a sign you’ll need a professional repair.
- One side of the crack is higher than the other
This can be difficult to eyeball, although sometimes you can spot it using a laser-level or similar tools. When the crack is accompanied by one side of the wall being higher than the other, that means the foundations have shifted in a significant way and will almost certainly need repair.
- Nearby doors or windows don’t close properly
Problems with doors and windows are the other big sign that the crack comes from foundation problems and shouldn’t be simply painted over. If the walls have shifted up or down, that will prevent doors and windows from working as they should. In these cases, the crack -and accompanying problems- will only get worse over time.
Genesis Pro Painting Can Be Your Go-To Painters in Westchester, NY
We’re one of the fastest-growing home painters in Westchester! Contact us to learn more.
