How Can Hairline Cracks in Walls Be Prevented?

The most lasting way to prevent hairline cracks is to cover the wall with glass textile or smooth glass fleece before painting. Filler and paint alone close the crack, but it usually opens again in the same place within a few months.

Why do hairline cracks form?

• Plaster and gypsum shrink as they dry.
• The wall expands and contracts as temperature and humidity change.
• Different materials, such as brick and concrete, move separately where they meet.
• The joints between plasterboard sheets show over time.

The lasting solution in four steps

1. The crack is opened slightly, dusted and filled.
2. The surface is primed.
3. Glass textile or glass fleece is glued on.
4. Two coats of paint are applied.

The covering spreads the small movement of the plaster across itself, so the crack cannot reach the paint.

When should a specialist look at it?

If the crack is widening, runs diagonally, starts at the corners of doors and windows and keeps growing, or appears together with a damp patch, the problem is not on the surface; the cause has to be found first.

Is there an option for a smooth wall without texture?

Yes. Smooth glass fleece bridges the crack but leaves no texture on the surface; Reno Smooth in the SYSTEXX catalogue is made for this purpose. You can look at suitable products at ithalduvarkagit.com and ask Erdağ Yapı for a survey for installation.