Crack under stairs in 3 floor townhouse

[Abbib99]

Hi,
I’m a first time buyer and recently bought a 3 storey townhouse. We’re in the process of redecorating and have noticed some cracks underneath the stairs. Our stairs wrap around.

Wondering how is best to fix the cracks in the underside of the stairs?
And how to sort the bit around the centre banister as it looks messy!

Thank you in advance - and hope I make sense!!

 

[blup]

Make sure you have matching paint to start, Homebase colour matching is reasonably good. Take out the cracks I.e. enlarge them slightly and fill and sand back using a decent filler like Toupret. Touch up when dry.

Can’t make out the issue with the bannisters

Blup

 

[Abbib99]

Make sure you have matching paint to start, Homebase colour matching is reasonably good. Take out the cracks I.e. enlarge them slightly and fill and sand back using a decent filler like Toupret. Touch up when dry.

Can’t make out the issue with the bannisters

Blup

Thank you, that’s what I was hoping the resolution would be - my anxiety tells me the whole house will fall down because of a crack ‍

The banister in image 2 (IMG_0981) where the curved ceiling meets the centre point, it’s cracked and uneven, is this best to just sand back so it’s flat and fill?

 

[Abbib99]

Also, is it best to fill the gaps with filler or flexible caulk?

 

[opps]

Image number 1- rake out and use Toupret Flex and Fill. It is similar to decorators' caulk but has fibres to reinforce it. Like caulk, it will shrink back. The following day fill with Toupret RedLite (know known as Quickfill).

Image 2- try regular caulk, eg Everbuild 125 or Geocel Painter's Mate, you will need a caulking gun though.

Image 3- same as image 1.

Image 4/5- probably just the Toupret Quickfill once you remove the loose/blown plaster.

I am recommending QuickFill because the dust from it will not cling to everything that it comes into contact with. The same cannot be said of most fillers. When you sand it back, the dust can be vacuumed up with ease (and will not clog the bags/filter on your vacuum cleaner). The downside is that it dries slowly. Let it cure overnight before sanding and use 100 grit paper to sand it.

 

[blup]

The banister in image 2 (IMG_0981) where the curved ceiling meets the centre point, it’s cracked and uneven, is this best to just sand back so it’s flat and fill?

Yes

Also, is it best to fill the gaps with filler or flexible caulk?

Filler, Screwfix do a good Toupret fine filler, more expensive than the high street names but sand fine and smooth.

Blup