Cracks & Bowing Plaster - Repair Question

[Aleksey F.]

Hello everyone,

Making my first offer on a property and a first 1st post here! 

This is a 1935 duplex that I will rent out. Having a tough time estimating the cost of plaster repair (cant bring a contractor until after closing in 30 days). Throughout the house I noticed 4-5 cracks and some paint peeling. None of the problem areas are in exterior walls, so I don't think moisture is a factor. My perfect scenario would be if these could be patched up without the need for demo replacing with sheetrock. So what is your opinion on how bad this is and fix required + cost ?

Small crack in wall:

Small crack in ceiling:

Bowing:

Large crack (~5 feet):

Peeling:

Peeling 2:

Best regards , Alex

[Roy N.]

@Aleksey F.

If you have yet to waive the inspection clause in your purchase offer, then there is no reason you cannot make arrangements to bring through a reputable contractor.   If the Vendor won't allow it, then walk.  

The flaking / pealing paint on ceilings is frequently moisture (coming though the plaster), but there are other causes (such as a building being unheated through winter).

The long cracks are telling you about movement.  The one across the ceiling if it follows along a joist is telling you that joist moved or moves.   Similarly the vertical cracks in walls are telling you there was movement below the wall (building settling, floor joist moving, etc).

The long horizontal crack in walls are the ones which would concern me the most as they mean the wall has moved horizontally (top and bottom of the wall have come out of plane).  

Fixing the cracks is relatively easy, but if you do not find and address the cause, they will return.

Manolo is correct, you do want someone with structural experience looking at the building.