We had our house built about 18 months ago and now I'm seeing these hairline cracks appearing in the drywall and concrete foundation. The builder says it's normal, but I'm worried it could be something more serious. Should I get a structural engineer to look at it, or is this just typical settling that'll stabilize on its own?
The builder's not wrong that some settling is totally normal, but 18 months in you're probably past the worst of it, so new cracks appearing now are worth taking seriously. Hairline cracks in drywall are usually cosmetic and nothing to panic about, but if you're seeing cracks in the foundation itself - especially if they're wider than a credit card or growing - that's when you want a structural engineer to take a look. It's worth getting a professional opinion just for peace of mind; they can tell you whether it's just normal movement or something that needs attention, and you'll have documentation if there are issues down the line.
Most new houses do settle in the first year or two, but if cracks are still showing up at 18 months, especially in both drywall and foundation, that's worth getting checked out - don't wait and assume it'll stop on its own. The real pitfall is that hairline cracks *look* harmless but can mask actual issues like poor drainage around the foundation or framing problems, so a structural engineer's inspection is worth the money before you decide it's just cosmetic stuff that needs spackle and paint.
Log into answer.
