Is a new ceiling crack structural or just cosmetic?
Most new homeowners cannot tell if a ceiling crack indicates a serious structural problem or just normal cosmetic settling. Without knowing the difference, people either waste money on unnecessary repairs or miss signs that require hiring an independent structural engineer.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1hiring a structural engineer instead of a repair company
- 2comparing new cracks against past inspection reports
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Hey all, newish homeowner here and I have possibly a new ceiling crack (the first photo).”source ↗
“I was a newer homeowner when I discovered a crack in my basement wall and I’m gonna tell you what I wish I had known before spending a lot of money: if you’re worried, hire a structural engineer. Not a company that does any work, just a structural engineer, first.”source ↗