A Los Angeles Times Special Report : Coping With The Quake : Recovering From Disaster, Preparing for the Future : How to Assess a Home’s Cracks

If an earthquake shakes the books off the shelves and leaves cracks in walls, what should be done? Most homeowners, after securing their safety and that of their family, will then think about the welfare of their home.

Southern California contractors who have done earthquake damage repair in past years say that most cracks in walls, though ugly, can be covered by a coat of paint or a hanging picture. The larger cracks, though, may demand immediate attention.

Fortunately, it is pretty simple and cheap to find out which crack is which.

Most construction companies and smaller contractors will send somebody out to inspect damage and do a free estimate of the cleanup and repair costs.

“Usually damage like a crack in the wall is just cosmetic,” said Mario Callirgos, architectural manager for California Remodeling in Buena Park. “But people get worried about it because it looks so bad.”

Callirgos said homeowners should worry most about cracks in beams that support the roof or additional floors, or are over doorways. If possible, residents should strap damaged beams in the attic to other sturdy beam before aftershocks arrive, he said.

William Long, owner of Hammerford Construction in Whittier, said repair the crack if you can fit your finger into it, otherwise apply a coat of paint and forget about it.

“I would not be overly concerned,” Long said, adding that most homes built in the past 25 years are sturdy and reliable. “We have gotten calls from several people (since the earthquake) who have noticed some small cracks around doorways. Those are not a concern.”