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Cracks in the drywall and plaster are a very common occurrence. They occur over time when there is stress or even a little settlement of the home. Contractors may call them hairline cracks, meaning that they are very thin looking. The majority of the time they are considered cosmetic and can be covered over when repainting is done.
Where do you often see drywall cracks?
In the above photo, settlement and drywall tearing cracks appeared at a horizontal drywall joint to the right of a door jamb (a poor location for a drywall joint and exacerbated by the use of mesh tape that is not as strong or tear resistant as paper tape). If you’re repairing a crack, use a knife to cut an inverted V shape groove along the length of the crack. Small holes and hairline cracks can easily be filled using caulk. Flexible caulk is best for filling in cracks in areas subject to movement such as around windows and door frames, and between skirting boards and walls.
These cracks are most commonly seen in areas where the structure develops more stress than other areas. The most common areas are the corners of doors and windows as well as the corners of wall openings. This is true of both exterior and interior doors and openings.
Another common place to see these cracks is where two pieces of drywall come together. These cracks usually run either horizontal or vertical at the drywall seams. Homes with vaulted ceilings may develop these cracks in the higher areas as well.
Additionally, drywall cracks are often found where two pieces of drywall are butted together. This occurs because there is a joint, which gets drywall taped and then layered with two or three coats of drywall mud. These joint areas are weaker than in the center, or field area of the drywall, therefore some cracks may occur at these joints.
Common causes of drywall cracks
As previously mentioned, stress is usually the main reasons that cracks occur. However, there are many potential causes of stress; some of the more common ones are:
- Wood framing drying out; the wood cures or loses moisture as it ages, causing the lumber to twist or warp a little and even a little dimensional change occurs.
- Movement of the structure:
1. Wind loads from storms, creating stresses on walls and ceilings
2. Settling of the home or soil movement
3. Expansive soils pushing up on the structure
4. Wet and dry seasons
5. Expansion and contraction due to hot and cold weather (this can be common in vacation homes and homes that have been left vacant due to the fact that the internal temperature of the home has been allowed to get higher and lower depending on the outside temps)
6. Earthquakes – if the home is in an area that has trimmers or earthquakes
7. Truss uplift – can create cracks where interior walls meets ceiling (read more)
8. Poor quality workmanship in taping the drywall joints. (Too much mud, too little mud, missing drywall tape, and drywall secured with internal stresses are some causes)
- Removal of “Pop-corn,” textured or “cottage cheese” looking ceiling material may leave a drywall taping job that tends to crack at the drywall joint. This often happens because the home builder knew that they were going to texture the ceiling, so they had the drywall contractor put on less coats of drywall mud over the joints since it would save money and would be covered with a textured material. i.e. a “pop-corn” ceiling material. With fewer coatings over the joints, the more likely a crack will develop.
Some cracks may be a “Red” flag under a few circumstances.
Wide cracks or cracks that run at an angel or diagonally may be a “Red” flag. It is important to note that while these cracks should be looked at more closely, these types of cracks may not be serious. Whether or not these cracks are serious is dependent on the particular circumstances.
If concerned, do a quick structural check of the home
First step outside the home and walk around the exterior; check for:
- Cracks in the foundation or is it bowed or leaning(READ MORE)
- Cracks in the siding or stucco (a few small cracks are common)
- Does the roof sag or is it bowed
- If there is a basement, check for cracked or bowing walls
Walk around the inside:
- Are the floors level or sloping
- Do any doors rub the flooring
- Are any doors or windows sticking
- Look for sagging ceilings and bowed walls
The above items can be an indication that a structural issues may exist, depending on the location and severity. If so, some of these issues may need to be addressed to help keep the drywall cracks from coming back.
Who can fix drywall cracks?
Handymen, homeowners, painters or drywall tapers
For the majority of cracks a painter would be the appropriate person to seal and cover the cracks. At times, a drywall contractor or a skilled handyman who can tape and mud joints may be needed. There are many products that can be used such as mesh tape, mesh patch kits, drywall mud and caulking. In some instances depending on the type of texture on the wall, it may be difficult for the homeowner to properly match the existing texture pattern. In this case an experienced drywall contractor is recommended although the majority of small cracks can be filled and repainted such that they cannot be noticed easily. By using a mesh tape product the crack is less likely to show up again. Simply applying some drywall mud or spackle will not be very strong and you may find that even the normal expansion and contraction from temperature fluctuations may be enough to cause the crack again.
Additional Resources
- If a load bearing wall is removed, there are structural issues and risks that homeowners and buyers should know.
- Do you believe that tree roots can really cause the drywall to crack in a home?
- When the drywall tape in a corner area or where the wall meets the ceiling has a wrinkled look, then it may be caused by humidity, workmanship or movement How to use sapcar command in linux.
- Know which ceiling cracks are serious and which ones are cosmetic.
- Drywall nails and screws sticking out or sunken in? Is the house new or old? Then..
- Has the drywall tape come loose or is there wrinkles in it? Then..
- How do you recognize mold and get rid of it? Does Insurance cover it?
- Mold may cause or aggravate health issues under some circumstances.
- Can you get rid of mold yourself? Are there legal considerations?
How can I tell if a diagonal crack in drywall at the corner of a window or door indicates a structural problem?
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Behind the drywall in most homes is wood stud framing. The studs have a higher moisture content when initially installed, which gradually drops over the first few years after construction as the wood dries out. There are also seasonal changes in outdoor moisture, plus the occupants of a home add moisture to the interior environment by cooking, showering, washing laundry, and just breathing. Conversely, if a home is unoccupied for a few months, the moisture level will drop.
Changes in moisture cause minor wood movement and shrinkage, which create stresses that often result in small horizontal or vertical hairline cracks around windows and doors. This is normal and sometimes the cracks close back up as the interior moisture increases. Larger horizontal or vertical cracks, when open and tapered, can signal a structural problem.
Diagonal cracks, on the other hand, tend to indicate some amount of structural movement no matter what size. Most diagonal cracks at windows and doors are “tension cracks,” caused by a force puling the two sides of a corner of the opening apart. Tension cracks taper in width as they snake away from the corner.
The less common “compression crack,” which occurs when forces are pressing the two sides of the corner of the opening together, is more significant as an indicator of structural distress. A compression crack, like the one shown below, has a ragged edge, bulges at the crack line, and one side may be higher than the other.
A diagonal crack can be caused by the bowing of the bottom chord of a truss above it, movement in the floor below, or lateral movement of the surrounding wall. One diagonal crack is something to note and keep an eye on, but multiple diagonal cracks, especially when in a cluster at the same area of a home, indicate a developing structural problem that should be investigated by a professional.
Also look for cracks on outside walls nearby, along with floors and ceilings around the opening. Structural distress is often revealed by multiple medium-size cracks rather than a single big, scary one.
Open and close the window or door at an opening with a diagonal crack to see if it binds at any point. Check that the gap between door edge and frame is consistent. Cracked window glass is another symptom of structural movement.
Drywall Door Frame
Also, see our other posts How do I recognize serious structural problems in a house? and What are the places to look for structural cracks in a house? and What causes a vertical crack in drywall? and What causes stair-step cracks in a block or brick wall?
Crack In Finished Drywall Above Door Frames
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To learn more about exterior walls and structures, see these other blog posts:
• What is the average lifespan of a house foundation?
• What causes vertical cracks in fiber cement siding planks?
• What is concrete spalling?
• What is the difference between soil subsidence, heave, creep, and settlement?
• How much ventilation is required for the under-floor crawl space of a home?
• What causes stair-step cracks in a block or brick wall?
• What causes a horizontal crack in a block or brick wall?
• What causes the surface of old bricks to erode away into sandy powder?
• What are the pros and cons of concrete block versus wood frame construction?
• Should I buy a house with a crawl space?
• Why is my stucco cracking?
• Can vinyl siding be painted?
• There's cracks running along the home's concrete tie beam. What's wrong?
• What would cause long horizontal lines of brick mortar to fall out?
Africa's Blood. • How do I recognize structural problems in a retaining wall?
• What are the places to look for structural cracks in a house?
• What is engineered wood siding?
• Should I buy a house that has had foundation repair?
• What is a 'continuous load path”?
• What is fiber reinforced concrete?
• What is Z flashing?
• Should I buy a house with asbestos siding?
• How can I tell if cracks in the garage floor are a problem or not?
• What do you look for when inspecting vinyl siding?
• Are brick houses hotter in Florida?
Fortigate vm license file crack. • Why is housewrap installed on exterior walls under the siding?
• How do I recognize serious structural problems in a house?
• Why did so many concrete block homes collapse in Mexico Beach during Hurricane Michael?
• How can I tell if the concrete block walls of my house have vertical steel and concrete reinforcement?
• Should I buy a house with structural problems?
• What are those powdery white areas on my brick walls?
Crack In Finished Drywall Above Door Frame Ideas
• What causes cracks in the walls and floors of a house?
• How can I determine if a house is structurally sound?
• How can I tell if the exterior walls of a house are concrete block (CBS) or wood or brick?
• What are the common problems of different types of house foundations?
• What are the warning signs of a dangerous deck?
Visit our EXTERIOR WALLS AND STRUCTURE page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
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