Cracks in Plaster throughout the house...

[Trevor Baker]

We just looked at a little house in Reseda, Ca that is a total fixer, and we know that. We know this is earthquake country, and this house built in 1950, and is still standing after several of them.  We also know this requires further professional inspection.   We're planning on submitting an offer on this house tomorrow and will stipulate a structural inspection contingency.

However, we noticed there are multiple cracks in the plaster throughout the house... in the walls & ceilings.  How likely are these to be superficial?  

[Derek Woods]

I have been rehabbing 1920’s apartments with great success.  I usually do FULL rehabs, electric plumbing and HVAC.  In doing so I create a lot of wholes in the old plaster.  I tend to be very strategic with the holes.  I have been trying to keep them in the ceiling or in certain walls.  In doing so, I always Sheetrock the ceilings with 1/2in and I never texture them (smooth ceilings look more modern). Any walls that are severely cracked, I will cover the entire wall with 90min Dura bond and 48in wide window screen for stability.  By doing so he wall is rock solid.  I will use mesh tape on all minor cracks with durabond and then feather that wide with regular mud.

This strategy seems to work very well on this type of property.