I recently bought a townhouse built in 1979 and noticed some unsettling things about the walls. There are notable bulges, and when I removed a built-in piece, I found that the leftover hole wasn't straight despite the built-in being level. It's clear that some corners of door frames and windows have had repairs and I noticed cracks in the garage and under kitchen cabinets. Given the age of the house, I'm curious if these issues are typical for older homes as they settle over time, or if I should be concerned.
3 Answers
In older homes, it's not unusual for walls to be off plumb due to settling and how the original builders worked with the materials. Wood is rarely perfectly straight, and the drywall can create bulges as it ages and settles. Cracks are often just part of the old-age charm, but if they get bigger, it might be worth looking into. Just because the walls aren't perfectly straight doesn't mean your house is falling apart!
Good to hear! I guess I shouldn't fret too much about it then.
It's pretty common for walls in houses, especially older ones, not to be perfectly straight. Wood has a tendency to warp over time, and construction techniques back in the day weren't as precise as they are now. There's also the settling of the house to consider, which can push things further out of alignment. When you built-in is being installed, it's normal to have to make adjustments to fit, using techniques like scribing to match the wall's contours.
Yeah, I've seen that in my old house too! It’s amazing how much it can shift just over a few years.
Absolutely! My recent renovations revealed even more imperfections than I expected.
Yep, walls are rarely straight, even in new builds sometimes! They use tricks to make everything look level and square, and when the house settles, that just adds to the imperfections. If you're really concerned, you could always get an engineer to check things out. But keep in mind, they might just tell you what we all know—houses move, and it’s pretty normal for things to be a bit off here and there!
Thanks for the advice! I might just have to get that checked out for peace of mind.
Good idea to consult a pro if you're feeling uneasy! Better safe than sorry.
Totally agree! My 1930s house is a maze of lord-knows-what angles, but it’s still standing strong.