Often we don’t even recognize there are ceiling cracks and when we do be aware of them, we don’t understand how historic they are, did they just happen, or have been there for years. The foundation of ceiling cracks can be hard to decipher, especially due to the fact they come in all different sizes, patterns, and colorations. As a worried homeowner, you want to be in a position to pinpoint the exact purpose to execute the correct repair.
Types Of Ceiling Cracks
Hairline Ceiling Cracks
Hairline ceiling cracks are bitsy, thin crevices that nearly look like someone painted hair to the drywall. Hairline cracks are generally caused by cataplasm or drywall slush issues, not the drywall itself. Extreme oscillations in moisture and temperature can affect in cataplasm expansion and loss (in direct correlation with the water immersion).
The continuous expansion and loss weaken the tenacious parcels of the drywall slush.
In addition, when a ceiling has multiple layers of makeup, the odds of crazing – those fine hairline cracks – go up. Multiple layers of makeup can also affect a scaled texture on your ceiling, analogous to crocodile skin.
While hairline ceiling cracks might be a hideosity, they aren’t reflective of serious structural damage. They’re generally addressed fluently enough with a fresh coat of makeup. Temperature and moisture control can help discourage unborn hairline cracks from occurring.
Solutions: It doesn’t matter. You can just ignore them.
Straight Ceiling Cracks
Straight ceiling cracks run in a straight line, so straight it nearly looks like they were applied with a sovereign. Generally, these cracks are straight because they follow the straight edge of the drywall tape recording along the drywall joint. Ceiling cracks tend to be fine and can generally be attributed to an inadequate quantum of cataplasm used during the drywall installation. The drywall tape recording is unfit to duly cleave to the joints and peel down due to a lack of strength.
Foundation agreement can complicate poor tape recording jobs in addition to high moisture.
In short, straight lines are nearly always the result of an unskillful drywall tape recording operation. A professional can snappily address this by patch-and-oil. Straight ceiling cracks aren’t generally portentous or suggestive signs of serious structural damage, just mortal error.
Solutions: Homeowners can choose to pass by this superficial problem, considering the fact that it isn’t a structural or security hazard. You can also decrease the appearance of the crack by way of making use of a small quantity of skinny drywall compound underneath the loose tape and re-adhering it to the drywall.
Yellow Or Brown Ceiling Cracks
Yellow, brown, and discolored ceiling cracks nearly always point to water damage – whether it’s from a roof leak or a fractured pipe. Depending on how fresh the leak is, these ceiling cracks may indeed be damp to the touch.
With yellow or brown ceiling cracks, it’s imperative to determine the source of the leak and address it before repairing your drywall.
Discolored ceiling cracks generally aren’t a sign of serious structural damage, but unmitigated humidity can produce a whole host of problems – mold, rotted drywall, and spalling (depending on the position and extent of the leak). You can repaint over these cracks if they’re small enough, larger cracks may require professional drywall replacement.
Solutions: To undo the harm completed to the ceiling, scrape off the unfastened tape and re-tape the joint, either with a drywall repair package or paper tape and joint compound. If you have a textured ceiling, use an aerosol texture product (found in domestic improvement stores) to cover the newly re-taped joint so it blends into the ceiling’s existing texture.
Spiderweb Ceiling Cracks
Spiderweb ceiling cracks branch out in a spiderweb pattern. Spiderweb ceiling cracks frequently signify foundation agreement (denoting compromised structural integrity).
When a home settles, it settles inversely. This uneven agreement exerts overdue pressure on the home’s foundation, which transfers this pressure up into the architecture of the home and the drywall. Other foundation agreement signs to look for in addition to spiderweb ceiling cracks include
- Out of square window and door frames
- Graded bottoms
To learn further about the signs and symptoms of foundation agreement, read our composition 5 Signs of Foundation Issues.
Still, there presumably isn’t important to be upset about, if your ceiling spiderweb cracks are lower than 1/ 16th of an inch. sometimes, drywall slush is applied too thinly and can affect spiderweb cracks after drying out.
Solutions: To conceal the blemishes, attempt making use of a thin layer of drywall compound over the existing texture. You may want to additionally eliminate the current texture by means of sanding-a messier prospect-and observe a new drywall compound to the ceiling.
Cracks Between The Ceiling And Wall
Ceiling cracks that seem to pull away from the wall are generally the result of stilt uplift. Trusses act as the frame for the roof and ceiling and help determine its shape. Ceiling trusses are designed to be flexible and acclimatize to moisture and temperature oscillations. Occasionally, generally due to extreme wind or weather oscillations, the trusses can pull down from the ceiling.
This leaves an unsightly gap between your wall and ceiling. This gap is generally due to the incorrect attachment of the ceiling to a non-load-bearing wall. This is a more serious ceiling crack that needs to be dealt with by professionals, similar to a construction company.
Solutions: The sole way to completely fix the difficulty is to eliminate the nails or screws that invulnerable the area of the drywall panels to the trusses, and reattach them to clips or blocks hooked up on the pinnacle of the interior wall plates. It’s first-rate to appoint an expert for this project.
Bowed Ceiling And Large Ceiling Cracks
Still, obtrusive cracks down the middle – there’s most likely severe structural damage if your ceiling is bowing and scarred with large. The structural integrity could be compromised by extreme water damage, an inordinate quantum of weight on the bottom above the ceiling, or foundation agreement.
Foundation agreement can ply too important stress on the trusses and framing above your ceiling, causing your ceiling to underpinning and the sheetrock to crack. In order to determine if your foundation is settling, reach out to a foundation form specialist near you for a foundation examination.
Solutions: A structural engineer or a legit builder need to observe the ceiling as soon as viable to decide the quality way to remedy the situation.
