Penthouse Crack Dens
…very common here in Center City!
I have seen a number of Center City Penthouse condos, and the one thing many have in common beyond a fantastic view is the visual presence of fairly large crack in the walls and the ceilings. From The Condos at Society Hill Towers, to new construction pieces like WaterFront Square, the issue is more prevalent than one might think.
To an inexperienced observer, some of these cracks, if left unattended can look downright scary. Measuring up to an inch wide and running from ceiling onto an adjoining wall, it does beg the question “Why shouldn’t I be worried about such an issue”? Although these cracks in the drywall and perhaps plaster may look frightening, they do make sense as many tall high rise condominium buildings here in Center City are subject to high winds, and of course higher winds prevail at higher heights. And buildings do shift and bend a bit- plaster and drywall are rigid and fixed- and they only thing plaster and drywall can do when exposed to movement is to crack.
If you have concerns, you should certainly ask your home inspector for his two cents. Just know that the issue is widespread amongst high rise condos in Philadelphia and throughout the planet.
Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106