Diagonal Ceiling Crack throughout Living Room - Serious?

Question

Hello!

I am considering a condo unit in the downtown Chicago area. It's a 20-year-old building located right next to the train rack. The unit's ceiling crack has grown throughout the entire living room diagonally. I've noticed that some other units have ceiling cracks too but not this long. Does anyone have any experience in similar issues and know if it indicates any serious structural damage or it's just a settlement / painting issue that can be fixed permanently?

Thank you!

Eudith Vacio · Answer

@Alex May - I think he sanded the cracks down and re-painted.

Alex May · Answer

@Eudith Vacio thanks for your feedback! This is helpful. The building is 24-story tall. Did your client fix it by redoing the entire drywall or just repainting the ceiling?

Eudith Vacio · Answer

@Alex May - a lot of these older condo buildings have cracks in the ceilings, especially as you go higher in the building. Every skyscraper will move - not by a lot but by enough that it will cause cracks in the buildings. I had a client that lived on the 39th floor of a condo building and he fixed the cracks, and years later they came back.

Alex May · Answer

@Mike McCarthy Thanks for your response Mike! The building was a new construction back then. But I do remember that the balcony door in the living room is indeed very hard to move. The door is below the ceiling on the right-hand side of the picture.

I guess if i redo the drywall it can be fixed, but I don't know if it will crack again...

Mike McCarthy · Answer

@Alex May it’s definitely an uncommon crack. It’s drywall, yes? Which makes it even more odd and concerning. Was it a new build 20 years ago? Or a rehab?

What’s on the exterior of the house? Any other potential settlement issues like doors or windows sticking?

Alex May · Answer

This is the picture of the crack. Apologize if it's a bit blurry but as you can see the planting is peeling off in the corner and the crack extends across the entire room.

Thanks for your help in advance!