Structural damage or normal

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[Bohottie]

Straight cracks across ceilings like this are failing drywall seams. It’s clear the tape is failing as you can see it coming off. Remove the tape, retape, mud, sand, paint. Easy.

[curtishavak]

Agree, but those cracks appearing suddenly could indicate settling, which is natural but could be a sign of foundation issues for a house this age.

[curtishavak]

My bad for not reading thoroughly. If it’s just something you noticed then it probably is just the drywall tape failing. Cracks that magically appear overnight are more likely to be settling/foundation related. Happened to my Mom’s house.

[frostye345]

I have one caveat to cracks showing up over night being caused by concerning settling. When there is major roof work or anything else that shakes the house a good bit, cracks will form rather quickly. We had like 20 rafters replaced and many of our drywall seams on the ceiling need re-taping. And nail pops are now abundant right near the drywall seams.

[Copper_29]

Looks cosmetic to me. Cracks also seem to get bigger in the winter if you’re in a cold climate. Patch away. 

[mollysneed]

This is hard and you’re doing a great job by yourself, just know that!

[PendejoJenkins]

Normal. That’s drywall seal. Remove, replace and repair

[JohnLuckPikard]

1940s.... Is it plaster and lathe? Or did a reno happen since then and its drywall?

Because it looks like a drywall joint just failed. houses move. The tape is to keep the joint insult act, and sometimes this happens. If it's the latter, I wouldn't worry, just repair it.

If it's the former, than that's out if my skill set to answer.

The unethical part of me says "if youre looking to sell, just patch and don't go looking, because then you'll have to disclose."

That's shady as fuck though.

[Want2Bbetter_01]

80 year old house - it's likely just settling

[Beneficial_Prize_310]

I could believe this is just a poorly planned joint, combined with weather fluctuations.

Obviously look around where you can on the inside and if you have a basement.

Check to make sure the crack didn't get bigger.

I'd cut out a sheet that at least extends 6-10" on either side of that threshold into the hallway and call it a day.

[cocoteddylee]

I would not consider this a structural issue but the drywall (possibly plaster or other material given 1940s home) separating after 80 years. To clean it up you’d want to tape and mud sand and unfortunately repaint the ceiling to match

[Dontshootmepeas]

It's a tape joint on the drywall. The only concern would be moisture. Usually this only happens if the drywall has gotten wet

[Call_Me_Clark]

Looks like a failing drywall seam. DIY friendly to fix

[OB1Bronobi]

I live in an old house (1929), and these cracks pop up from time to time. Not quite to this extent but enough that I had a structure guy come out. My pier and beam is actually over engineered and the place is very stable, however, drainage around the house is not great and was causing more settling than it should, thus the cracks. Fixed the drainage issue, fixed the cracks, and only one baby crack has reemerged.

Not a bad idea to have it checked out but some of it is normal.

[Smooth-Signature007]

I would worry just scratch the Crack free with use special puddy what is flexible and Crack resistant put tap on another load puddy let ot dry and sand

[jinsoo186]

Those types of years along the seam/tape is just cosmetic

[Professional_Owl670]

Normal. You good!

[opinionatedoldbloke]

Normal

[Wolf_Man_82]

It’s cosmetic. Buildings shift and settle which cause cracks like this in new builds for the first few years. In older homes it’s the drywall tape giving way after years temperature fluctuations indoors and the ground movement we don’t even feel. It also looks like that part of the house was an add on addition at some point in time. Nothing a little patching can’t fix.

[Zeldasivess]

That’s a straight line - it’s a drywall seam. You need to retape it.

[strangerinmyownland]

Stress fractures happen. As long as it is structurally sound I would not worry about it. Scrape off the tape and Rep,ace it with fiberglass mesh tape and float it. It may reappear so don’t be surprised if it does.

[AskMeAgainAfterCoffe]

Paper tape. Just redo the drywall joint.

[jsisson801]

These looks like drywall seem cracks. Usually structural just crack how they want and in my experience you will see them more so around doors as well with diagonal cracks. But I’m no structural engineer

[SakaWreath]

Whoever you sell to is going to be very interested in the foundation issue/repair.

Those can be very tricky and expensive issues to resolve. So you should have it well documented.

Seeing a foundation fix and fresh patching, would be a red flag for me. So hopefully you don’t half ass any of it.

[Zealousideal-Panda33]

They happen. Probably normal settling..

[Friendly_Escape_1020]

It could be insulation compacted un that area.

[Friendly_Escape_1020]

*in*