What Causes Cracks In Walls And Ceilings

These cracks are serious and require professional attention.

What causes cracks in walls and ceilings.

Ceiling cracks accompanied by wall cracks could be the result of the house settling. Leaving a house vacant can cause wall cracks. A crack is continuous though the wall and ceiling. Ceiling cracks generally follow the joints between drywall sheets and as long as they remain minor with widths of less than 1 8 inch you can patch them with tape and joint.

This type of crack suggest that there may be a structural issue i e. Expansion and contraction with hot and cold weather changes along with normal settling can change wall to ceiling alignment and can cause cracks in both these areas. We explore which cracks are cause for concern. Ceiling cracks that run across the ceiling to the wall and then downward on the wall.

This is a sign of structural damage usually related to a weak wall. Homes naturally settle as they age which can create crevices in the walls and ceilings typically above doors. Small cracks located above interior windows or doors are usually harmless. Leaky windows and roofs can cause moisture to get into your home s walls.

Vacation homes and those that sit empty for a few months are prone to developing cracks in both walls and ceilings. Cracks in the walls of your home could indicate serious foundation issues but that s not always the case. A foundation issue or framing issue. This causes the drywall to get wet soften and deteriorate which then leads to cracking.

Cracks along the line where the ceiling and interior walls meet can be caused by settlement of the floor slab but usually there is a separation between the baseboard and floor first along with stress cracks emanating diagonally from the corners of doors before any ceiling wall crack lines appear. If the crack is vertical and starts near the apex where the wall and ceiling meet it might be a sign that it was created when the foundation settled after construction. Long horizontal cracks that extend along the joints where interior partition walls and upstairs ceilings connect generally signify roof truss issues which cause ceilings to detach from walls. Basically a continuous crack going through the ceiling and the wall.