Earthquake damage. Any cement/rebar structural engineers in the house?

[uncletiger]

So after Mother Nature decided to play rock-a-bye baby with us yesterday, our house has some cracked plaster. Most of it is along the middle of the walls and just superficial, but one crack formed on the load bearing post. I don't see any rebar through the crack. It appears that the top few millimeters of concrete pulled away from the rest of the post.

 

Is there any body here who is a structural engineer and can tell me what I should look for to determine if this is serious? Can I just plaster over it like the other superficial cracks in the walls?

 

Thank you for any advice.

[Crossy]

Is it just the render on the post that's cracked? That would be just fine to fill and paint.

 

 

[uncletiger]

On 3/29/2025 at 12:52 PM, Crossy said:

Is it just the render on the post that's cracked? That would be just fine to fill and paint.

 

 

 

Thanks for the advice. We're getting someone to look at it, but my gut tells me it's not a serious problem. Eye opening though. Not sure how well Thai construction would survive in a real earthquake.

[ElwoodP]

How far can you press a toothpick into the slab?

[Crossy]

This may be useful.