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.
The Home Mender shows us how to remove a buckled seam from a ceiling or wall, apply new tape and mud. Click the links to see what's inside 'Dustin's Toolbox'. In today’s video I’m going to show you how to actually repair drywall tape joints on a ceiling with fiberglass mesh tape and repair ceiling cracks on seams. Normal Settling Over Time. As a house ages, homeowners can expect some normal wear.
A cracked wall could lead to a more extensive repair if it’s not fixed at once. The best way to remedy a crack on the wall is to put a joint compound. The joint compound is a kind of putty designed to fill the cracks on concrete.
Where do you often see drywall cracks?
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.
Long Crack In Ceiling
- 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 be aware of.
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
Know which ceiling cracks are serious and which ones are just 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?
Cracks in ceilings may be cosmetic or they can be a structural “red flag”. The difference depends on the shape, size, location, and the cause of the cracks.
Often we don’t even realize there are cracks and when we do notice them, we don’t know how old they are; did they just happen, or have they been there for years? Once the cracks are noticed, then it’s a good idea to do a little investigation into them. It is not uncommon for homes to get a crack or two in their ceilings over time, therefore older homes will generally have more ceiling cracks.
New homes will often develop a few cracks in the first year or two, but most of them will be at door and window corners or at the areas where the walls meet the ceilings, rather than on the ceiling itself. One of the common reasons for this is that many homes will settle a little in the first year or two. Also, the wood framing lumber usually drys out some which causes the studs, joists, and rafters to twist or bow slightly. Major track builders know that they will get a number of calls about these cracks in the first year or two and just consider it part of the construction business.
Hairline and spiderweb type of cracks
Hairline type of spiderweb cracks due to paint issues
When repeated coats of paint are applied over other coats, then over a period of years, the chances of crazing (a pattern or network of hairline/ fine cracks) or alligatoring (a pattern similar to the reptiles scaly skin) cracking increases.
The layer(s) under the topcoat get brittle over time and expand and contract due to thermal and moisture changes differently than the more flexible topcoat. These lower coats tend to crack first and then the cracks work their way up to the topcoat, thus patterns of thin cracks develop in the topcoat of the paint.
Spiderweb or hairline type cracks due to drywall mud issues
At drywall joints where two pieces of drywall butt up to one another, drywall installers tape the joint areas. Drywall tape is used as well as drywall joint compound, often called drywall “mud”. If the drywall joint compound is put on in one or more coats that are too thick then when the mud dries, it shrinks, creating hairline spider or crazing type cracks. When too much water is added in order to thin the mud prior to application, small hairline cracks may also occur. These types of cracks are merely the result of poor workmanship.
Straight cracks at taping joints
Cracks that appear at the side of drywall joint tape are usually caused by improper mud application during the installation. When the drywaller taped the joint they did not use enough mud and this can result in shrinkage cracks along the tape lines.
Usually, the crack will be very straight because it is following the straight edge of the tape at a drywall joint. This is insignificant for structural concerns and is instead evidence of poor workmanship.
Cracks on a sagging or bowed ceiling
If a ceiling is bowed, sagging, or dropped down, then the reason may relate to structural issues. Common causes include:
1. Spacing of ceiling joists or trusses
If the ceiling joists or trusses supporting the ceiling drywall are spaced too far apart, then sagging may result and the stress from this may create cracks.
Crack At Ceiling Wall Joint Repair
2. Improperly sized ceiling joist
When the ceiling joists or trusses are undersized for the drywall ceiling weight that they are carrying, then sagging may result and the stress from this may create cracks.
3. Damaged ceiling joists or trusses
Occasionally, a ceiling joist or a truss becomes damaged or cracked, this weakens the framing member and the ceiling will bow or sag in one or more areas. Thus, stress is placed on the drywall and cracks develop.
Cracks caused from a load-bearing wall being removed and not having proper supports installed
Bowed ceiling cracks may also be caused by a load-bearing wall being removed without the proper structural support being added. At times the ceiling may not be bowed, but one section has dropped down. This movement can result in cracks. Read more on load-bearing walls.
Cracks caused by truss uplift
Cracks that appear where a ceiling intersects a wall may be due to “truss uplift”. Roof trusses tend to move a little when there is a seasonal change of temperature or humidity. These fluctuations and changes may result in the trusses moving or shifting a little. This is common and most homes are engineered to handle movement due to truss uplift.
Truss uplift cracks are normally noted on interior walls, not exterior walls. The cracks will typically appear on walls that are perpendicular to the direction that the trusses run. Generally, these cracks are not considered to be a structural concern and may even open up and close somewhat depending on the season. Read More On Truss Uplift.
A higher level of concern with ceiling cracks occurs when:
A crack is continuous through the wall and ceiling
Cracks that run across the ceiling to the wall and then down on the wall, basically a continuous crack going through the ceiling and the wall, may be a concern. This type of crack suggests that there may be a structural issue i.e. a foundation or framing issue.
Ceiling cracks running diagonally across the ceiling
A crack (of a 16th of an inch or larger) that runs at a diagonal angle through a sheet(s) of drywall requires a lot of force to create this crack. It’s like the drywall is ripped apart. This type of crack generally would be considered a “red flag”, depending on width, length, and location.
Wide cracks and areas that have a number of cracks
Ceilings that have multiple cracks that are more than just a small hairline crack are a concern. Cracks that are 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch wide or more would easily fall into this category. A crack that is 1/8 inch wide and only two feet long in a corner will not be given as much weight as a ceiling with 1/4 inch wide cracks, three or five feet long and that appear in a number of locations.
Ceiling cracks become more of a “red flag” if there are other signs that the house may have movement or structural problems
When ceiling cracks become a concern you should look for other factors that indicate possible structural issues to determine the severity and importance of the ceiling cracks.
Signs of possible structural issues include:
- Cracked foundation or slab (Read more)
- Sloping or sagging floors
- Doors and windows that stick or won’t open
- Sagging roof
Cracks may also be caused by:
- Small earthquake tremors
- Settling of the home
- Soil movement from slope creep or landslides
- Sinkhole issues
Bottom Line
Ceiling cracks are common and usually not a major concern. The older the home, the more likely for cracks to appear. Most contractors and homeowners will view cracks as a maintenance or cosmetic issue. Occasionally ceiling cracks can be a “yellow” or “red” flag that there is a serious or structural issue, therefore it is good to be able to recognize warning signs that a problem may exist.
If you are unsure if there is a problem or if a ceiling crack is serious, a home owner or buyer may wish to consult with an appropriately qualified professional. This may be a framing, drywall, or general contractor. A structural engineer likewise may be helpful in providing meaningful information.
- You may only need preventive maintenance
- If very minor, then you may just need to monitor it for changes
- If repair is needed, it is much cheaper to correct it in the early stages than after it has become a big problem
- Should it be major, then you may need to consult a qualified professional
Take a minute and review our page with other common structural issues in homes
How To Fix Crack In Ceiling Joint
Articles and Resources On Common Structural Issues In Homes
Crack At Ceiling Wall Joint Diagram
Additional Resources
Cracks develop in wall and ceiling areas. What are they a sign of and what can be done?
Contractors will tell you that concrete cracks; well likewise, stucco tends to crack. There are several things...
If a load bearing wall is removed, there are structural issues and risks that homeowners and buyers should be aware of.
Settlement may cause damage to a house, but some settlement can be prevented or reduced.
Floor creaking may be related to the installation of the floor or to the homes foundation settling. Other reasons include...
If your foundation has a crack or cracks know what to look for to determine if they are major or minor.
Sloping floors are often one of the warning signs that structural engineers look for when analyzing a house.
Doors that self close or open is usually not due to a ghost. First check if floor is level.
Can you name the type of foundation that you have?