If a crack in plaster is covered with paint could it have been caused by recent construction vibrations?

Question

Our neighbor has many small cracks in her plaster walls and ceilings that she claims were caused by vibrations from construction in our apartment. Most of the cracks are covered by paint that was applied before our work began. Could they have been caused by our work?

Answer 1

Most likely no.  Not unless the vibrations were like that of an earthquake.  The house/apt is most likely just getting old and things will start falling apart, needing remodeled.

Answer 2

Recent cracks usual will have no paint covering them but sometimes small cracks can stretch some paint and show the darker crack line beneath.   Hair and plaster, old style walls, are generally dried out and can crack if abutting walls are heavily vibrated.  Floor sanding on an apartment  above another can crack hair plaster but for general ceiling and wall cracks happening at the same time its a stretch of the imagination or it would take a lot of vibration.  Nailing into shared studs can transmit damaging vibrations, particularly in side by side walls.  If a bearing wall was removed without proper support it can shift support for a long distance causing movement which can cause cracks.  A lot of ifs........do you know someone who is familiar with that apartment as it was before the construction began?   what is the character of the person making the complaint?    Is the neighbor jealous, grumpy, competitive or usually upright and honest?   How extensive is the damage would it be easier, if you somewhat believe them, to have you or your crew give it a skim coat of thin-set, a priming and painting?  Has the work had effects on other areas of the building?   I guess it could have.   On a modern apartment that is textured, walls and ceiling, again not all surfaces.  If all surfaces of a textured apt are damaged it is generally because the original mix wasn't right.  This doesn't seem to be much help.   I am used to looking at a situation adn then pondering it over a coffee, off-site.

Answer 3

No. The paint is bonded to the plaster and will crack along with the plaster. If the crack is full of paint then the crack was there when the paint was applied.