11/06/2026
Noticed a small crack in your new home? Don't panic.
Homeowner Tip: Understanding Hairline Cracks
Hairline cracks are common after handover and often appear as your home settles and materials expand, contract and adjust over time.
Here's what you need to know:
It is common: Hairline cracks can occur in new homes and are often part of the normal settling and drying process after construction.
Size matters: Under the Victorian Standards and Tolerances Guide 2015, very fine cracks between 0.1mm and 1mm are generally considered acceptable.
Common locations: You may notice them where different materials meet, such as where MDF or timber meets plaster, around stair joins, doorways, cornices or plaster joins.
At Ellari Homes, we use the right glues, caulking and finishing methods to help manage these areas. However, small hairline cracks can still appear over time as the home adjusts to seasonal changes and everyday movement.