The Most Common Interior Wall Problems Homeowners Should Know About

Last Updated on November 3, 2021 by Kravelv

Interior walls are generally seen as an essential part of a home. Although they are not always structural, they are essential to divide the space you have available and create a homely environment.

The interior walls are often overlooked as they don’t appear to be open to the same level of abuse that the exterior walls are. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have any issues to face. You need to know what the most common interior wall issues are and when they are likely to be serious.

If you are looking to replace or add interior walls it can be a good idea to look at a modern polymer wall system as this can be immune to many of the issues traditional interior walls suffer from.

Cracks

A crack in an interior wall doesn’t have to be serious, but it can be. You should certainly take a closer look at it. Small cracks, especially on walls that have recently been plastered, are generally a result of the plaster shrinking and drying out. These can be easily filled and the problem resolved.

However, older walls are often made with lath and plaster. These don’t adhere well and you will often notice small and irregular cracks appearing in your walls. You may be able to cut the raised plaster section out and re-secure the laths to the joists before adding new plaster into position. However, in many cases, this isn’t possible and you will be looking at removing the lath and plaster and adding a new layer of plaster to the wall.

Damp

A big problem in many existing homes is dampness. This can be the result of a leaking pipe in the walls or because the damp is rising up from the floor. In either instance your wall will have a damp stain, may feel damp, and the covering will start to disintegrate.

You need to identify the source of the damp and resolve this before you can try to save the wall or replace it. This can be the hardest issue to solve as you will have to do a fair amount of damage to locate the source of the dampness and then resolve the issue.

Soundproofing

Brick walls are very good at offering soundproofing and insulation. However, interior walls are either hollow or contain a single layer of brick. That makes them ineffective as soundproofing which can be an issue inside your home.

Fortunately, this is a fairly easy one to fix, providing the wall itself is in good condition. The easiest solution is to add an insulation layer on one side of the wall. This can be done easily with the polymer framing system. The new wall can be finished to look like space it is in and you will enjoy the reduction in noise pollution.

Of course, holes in internal walls are never a good sign, the sooner you fix this issue the better!