Another crack in the wall …

Q: There are small cracks in the wall at the corners of some of my windows. They’re really tiny; should I be worried? And how do I fix them? — Julie D., via e-mail

A: These are most likely stress cracks in the plaster or drywall surrounding the window frame, caused by the house settling or adjusting to seasonal temperature differences. They’re very common, but a little annoying, as they need to be filled in with plaster or spackling compound and repainted — often.

•One way to reduce the number of times you’ll have to touch up these spots is to cover the cracks with mesh wall tape (available at your home-improvement store). The tape can be painted to match the wall, and its flexibility will reduce the visible cracks in the corners of your windows.

•After a few years, the tape might pop up — clearly visible as it separates from the wall. Carefully peel away the old tape so that the paint in surrounding areas doesn’t pull up too. Inspect the cracks in the corners to see if they’ve gotten larger; you may want to spackle the wider cracks. Then apply new mesh tape and repaint.

•Larger cracks extending from the corners of your windows — especially those extending several inches outward or extending from the frame all the way to the ceiling — need to be checked by a professional structural contractor. Most are also due to the settling of the house and foundation in older homes, but following major storms or other events, the stress can show up in newer ones. The faster these are addressed, the less costly the repair will be.