What Causes Plaster To Crack [updated] Jun 2026

This is the one you worry about. If a foundation sinks, a roof truss lifts, or a load-bearing wall shifts, the plaster will crack badly. Look for wide cracks (over 1/4 inch) , cracks that run across the ceiling and down the wall, or cracks near door frames that cause the doors to stick.

Never just fill a crack without checking why it happened. what causes plaster to crack

Even a perfect plaster job can crack over time due to external forces. This is the one you worry about

The most common cause of cracking in new and old homes alike is "settlement." When a house is built, the foundation and the framing lumber contain moisture. Over the first few years of a home's life, the wood dries out and shrinks, and the foundation settles slightly into the ground. This process causes the frame of the house to shift minutely. Never just fill a crack without checking why it happened

If your cracks appeared shortly after the job was done, the culprit is usually the application process.