we bought an old house and there are large cracks in the walls.?

Question

the walls leak pretty bad. what is the best thing to use to repair them. some of the spaces are up to 3-4 inches wide and deep? thanks

hte house is over 150 years old. the walls are i think lime stone. it leaks water

Answer 1

if the house is more than a 100years old, the wall is either constructed using the ff method: "mamposteria" or "de sillar." Mamposteria are rubble stone while de sillar is stone blocks. These are usually the methods of wall construction during the spanish period. I guess, your house is more of de sillar construction...im just not sure what kind of stone were used since you never mentioned the location of your house. Perimeter ground walls are constructed sometimes as an independent structure...meaning it doesnt carry the structure above it. But there are also walls that was built before that supports the structure above it and if your house is similar to this, the cracks might be due to structural failures of the wall. I would suggest that you seek first the advice of an architect or an engineer with background on conservation/restoration. Just remember, "less intervention is the best preservation."

Answer 2

first find out where the leak is coming from ie: a pipe or the roof are rain through the extire walls stop the lesk and the replace the dry wall it comes in four by eight sheets,extrier walls can be sealed with water proof paint. wow 150 year old house with walls of lime stone,cool where is it lacated, well if the inside walls are plaster are dry wll replace with the same go to a hard ware store if the walls out side are unpainted lime stone you need a clear water selant hay can you send me some pictures of this house please

Answer 3

This should not be happening! Get a lawyer and an inspection and contact the builder. There is probably a warranty that covers such things but don't trust the builders. They will want to put a "band-aid" on it tell you every thing is fixed. It sounds like they screwed up when building the foundation and fixing it will be very expensive aside from fixing the cosmetic cracks and whatever else the inspector finds. This is serious and you should treat it so.

Answer 4

There are so many ways to fix cracks in walls. Are these plaster walls?
Try to inspect inside the walls and then plaster them up. It's hard to make a mistake.

Answer 5

LEAK? what are they leaking? water? if so you need to fix the roof or exterior walls first. then i would replace the sheet rock.. if it is that bad it would be easier to replace the sheetrock.

Answer 6

it sounds like you may have a foundation problem you need a master mason to check the house may be beond home owner repair that is just my guess

Answer 7

replace the walls with new walls.