My wife and I bought our home 3 years ago. It is roughly 50 years old, and had recently been shored prior to our purchasing it. There were a few cracks in drywall here and there, nothing that wasn't easily patched and painted. Six months ago, we had spray foam insulation installed in our attic, and since that time, I've noticed some cracks starting to appear once again, some in places I'd previously patched, some new. As I was inspecting a re-opened crack, I looked around the rest of the house, and found an interior wall where the seam where the all meets the ceiling has split, almost the whole way across the room. I'm wondering, what could cause that? Could it be related to the weight difference caused by the newly installed insulation in the attic? Could it be some natural settlement following the recent shoring job? We also had a drought for most of October through present, which could also cause some settlement issues. I have visually inspected the slab, but I don't see where any significant cracks have appeared. Has anyone seen anything like that before, or had a similar experience?
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Active4 years, 6 months ago
RayRay
3 Answers
You indicate that you have been in a drought since October. Combine cooler weather, better insulated roof, and heat being on; the structural framing of the house may have shrunk.
I experience some 'seasonal' cracking and shrinkage in my home. See what it looks like in July/August, if the condition persists, consult a local experienced contractor.
Long hairline cracks in the middle of the ceiling and in corners between wall and ceiling throughout the house I have a crack running almost the whole width of an interior wall along the top of the wall right at the ceiling.
JohnJohn
If the roof is structured with pre-built trusses, then this site, http://inspectapedia.com/interiors/Roof_Truss_Uplift.phpcould explain the condition you observe.
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The least expensive method of repairing the crack involves re-taping the horizontal seam where the wall meets the ceiling. Before applying a new drywall corner bead and drywall joint compound to. Cracks where ceiling meets wall. Keep an eye on the cracks so you'll know if something makes a radical change but don't worry for now. Try a paintable caulk and make the smallest hole in the tube end. Strike a bead along the crack and wipe it with a wet finger or paper towel. Use white caulk and the crack should disappear for the most part. How to Fix a Drywall Crack at the Wall/Ceiling Joint. Drywall is a construction panel made from gypsum plaster and thick sheets of paper that is then dried in a kiln. Native instruments audio 8 dj driver. Drywall is easier to install than traditional plaster, and is easier to repair or replace as needed. While drywall will not crack like plaster will.
Briefly, if different parts of a wooden truss are subject to different temperature or humidity, the changes in individual dimensions can cause the truss to arch in the middle, and draw away from walls below.
DJohnMDJohnM
Cracks where the walls meet the ceiling are quite common and can be caused by a number of things including thermal expansion of the timbers, moisture and even vibrations caused by normal occupancy.
Crack Where Ceiling Meets Wall Mudding
Consider the seam between two sheets of drywall in-plane on the wall. Expansion of the structure is not likely to split this seam because the timbers expand relatively uniform and elongate in the same direction.
Now, between the wall and the ceiling you have ceiling timbers expanding laterally and the wall timbers expanding vertically. Though they are fastened you will have small strains focused on the corners.
Drywall mud is not a very elastic substance when dry. To address this problem you should run a bead of paintable caulking the entire length of where your walls and ceiling meet. You will still have the wear on the corner but the caulking will now show a crack like the raw mud will. Alternatively you can use crown molding to obscure the corners.
Matthew
Stress Crack Where Wall Meets CeilingMatthewDrywall Crack Where Wall Meets Ceiling
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