A crack opens in a stepped pattern
The line follows the masonry joints. This pattern often points to differential movement within the building and should not be ignored.
Building expertise in Luxembourg
Crack survey expert
We determine whether your cracks are harmless or structural, whether they are still moving, and what repairs are genuinely needed.
- Independent expert
- Report you can use with your insurer, your contractor or the court
- Site visits throughout Luxembourg
A crack is worrying because it does not tell you what lies behind it. Some are simple shrinkage marks in the finish, with no consequence. Others reveal a settling foundation, an overload, historic ground movement, or a poorly executed load transfer.
What matters is not the length or the colour of a crack, but its shape, its direction, its depth, where it sits within the structure and how it changes over time. A thin but through-going stepped crack is far more concerning than a wide crack in plaster render.
We record these details on site, we measure the width, we check the critical points of the structure and we tell you what the crack actually means. You then know whether to act now, keep monitoring, or simply fill it in.
When we can help
Cracks run right through a wall
Visible on both the inside and the outside at the same spot, the crack then affects the load-bearing element, not just the surface finish.
The crack keeps widening month by month
We fit monitoring markers and take measurements to establish whether the movement is still active or has settled for good.
Cracks appear after works next door
Excavation, demolition, deep foundations, heavy machinery. Where possible, we link the damage back to these works.
Cracks in a recently built property
In a new building, unusual cracking often falls under a warranty. We record the evidence before the relevant time limits run out.
Cracks around openings and corners
Lintels, window sills, junctions between different materials. These points concentrate stress and reveal a great deal about the structure.
Why call in an expert
You find out how serious it is
The uncertainty ends. You can tell a cosmetic issue apart from a structural one, with the technical arguments to back it up.
You avoid unnecessary works
Redoing a facade without addressing the cause means facing the same job again two years later. The diagnosis saves you that expense.
You get a document that carries weight
Insurer, builder, or a neighbour who carried out excavation works. The report lets you make a claim backed by solid findings.
Unsure about your building? Have it assessed.
Describe your situation in two minutes. We call you back and arrange the site visit.
How the survey works
01
First contact
You describe the location and age of the cracks. We tell you what to photograph and what not to fill in before the visit.
02
On-site visit
We examine each crack, inside and outside, along with any accessible foundations, the ground conditions and the surroundings of the building.
03
Analysis
We connect the pattern of the cracks with the history of the building: an extension, an opening created, a change in load, drought, or works nearby.
04
Report
We conclude on the nature of the movement, whether it is still active, and the repairs that should be carried out.
The expert report
The report locates each crack on annotated photographs, states its measured width and confirms whether it is superficial or through-going. It concludes on the origin of the movement.
It also sets out the repair options: simple surface treatment, stitching, underpinning, or instrumented monitoring over several months before any decision is made.
What the report contains
- Photographic mapping of the cracks
- Width measurements and description of the pattern
- Whether the movement is still active or has stabilised
- Technical cause identified
- Recommended repairs and any monitoring required
Where we work
We handle crack-related defects across the whole of Luxembourg, on private houses, apartment blocks and commercial buildings.
We regularly travel to Luxembourg City, Esch-sur-Alzette, Differdange, Dudelange, Ettelbruck, Diekirch, Mersch, Strassen, Bertrange and Mamer.
Luxembourg-Ville, Esch-sur-Alzette, Differdange, Dudelange, Ettelbruck, Diekirch, Mersch, Strassen, Bertrange, Mamer.
Frequently asked questions
Size alone is not enough. A crack under a millimetre wide can be structural if it runs right through the wall in a stepped pattern, while a wide crack in render can be harmless.
Through monitoring over time: markers fitted on either side and repeated measurements over several months, allowing for seasonal variation.
That depends on the cause and on your cover. Proving the origin of the defect is the deciding factor, and that is precisely the purpose of our report.
No, definitely not. A filled crack destroys the most useful evidence. Wait for the visit before any treatment, even a temporary one.
Yes, this happens often. Excavation, vibration, lowering of the water table. The link is shown through the timing of when the damage appeared and where it is located.
We tell you immediately what precautionary measures are needed and which further structural checks should be carried out without delay.
Related surveys
Have your cracks diagnosed
Send us a description and a few photographs. We arrange the visit and tell you whether the movement needs monitoring or treatment.
AC Expertises — Arap CETIN, Expert en bâtiment
21 rue du puits romain (Bâtiment Colors Business Center), L-8070 Bertrange