Filling Cracks In Walls And Ceilings

How to determine if the cracks in walls are serious.

Filling cracks in walls and ceilings.

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. Cracks that cause concern are those which run across the length of a ceiling and then continue down a wall along the same line. Cracks can appear for a number of reasons. Homes naturally settle as they age which can create crevices in the walls and ceilings typically above doors.

Start by cleaning loose material out of the crack and fill it with joint compound. Basically a continuous crack going through the ceiling and the wall. This is due to the house not being. This type of crack suggest that there may be a structural issue i e.

Ceiling cracks that run across the ceiling to the wall and then downward on the wall. A crack is continuous though the wall and ceiling. These cracks are serious and require professional attention. Leaving a house vacant can cause wall cracks.

The plaster keys holding it to the underlying lath can also crack and break over time causing the plaster to partially separate from the wall. This is a sign of structural damage usually related to a weak wall. Vacation homes and those that sit empty for a few months are prone to developing cracks in both walls and ceilings. Expansion and contraction of the wood studs as they shrink and expand with changing humidity levels can cause the plaster to crack.

There s no exact method for determining how serious a wall crack is without hiring an expert to examine the wall but you might be able to. Ceiling cracks accompanied by wall cracks could be the result of the house settling. It works best on hairline cracks but it s worth a try on wider cracks too. It forms an elastic film that stretches and contracts along with the crack.