One of the most common issues that homeowners have to face is cracked drywall. If you’re looking for a solution on how to repair drywall cracks, we have an article you can read. In this blog post, we will examine the question: why does drywall crack?
1. Bad Tape Job
Drywall taping is the trade of applying mud to drywall joints and laying down drywall tape to hide the cracks between the sheets of drywall installed to the frame of the building. The drywall tape needs to be installed correctly or else the tape has the chance of separating from the wall and creating drywall cracks. You will then have to replace the tape along with fixing the crack. If you need help fixing this issue, we have an article on how to repair drywall tape.
Wrong Type of Mud Was Used
Not all drywall mud is created equal despite the name all-purpose mud. Using the wrong type of mud on the wrong stage of drywall taping can lead to the tape lifting off of the joint causing cracks in the drywall.
Mesh Tape Used With All-Purpose Mud
Mesh tape vs paper tape is another hot topic issue with drywall tapers. People who use mesh tape will tell you to not use all-purpose mud to embed the tape. Instead, you need to use hot mud, otherwise known as quick-set mud.
2. New Home Settling
Newly constructed homes need time for a home to settle. While a home settles it starts to shrink and expand which can cause small cracks to occur. Many homeowners decide not to fix these cracks within the first year so the home can go through its settling process in a set calendar year. It is then you should fix any drywall cracks that occur.
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3. Water Damage
Water damage is a problematic issue in construction. Water can seep in from the roof or window, or a damaged water pipe could also cause damage to your drywall causing cracks or worse to appear. Drywall acts like a sponge soaking up water and appearing as a discoloured patch or wet crack. Before you begin to fix the drywall cracks, make sure the source of the water damage has been repaired.
4. Unregulated Climate Control
Leaving a building unattended can lead to deterioration over time. Having no one there to help with the upkeep can lead to serious problems. One of them is leaving a space with no climate control. Having no climate control over a home allows for humidity and temperature change leading to drywall becoming cracked and in need of repair. If you are fortunate enough, investing in a modern thermostat allows you to have climate control while you are away eliminating drywall cracks caused by this issue.
5. Foundation Issues
Drywall cracks caused by foundation issues are a bigger problem than other types of crack sources. The main reason it’s a bigger problem is because no matter how often you fix the cracks they will come back when the foundation heaves up or settles down back into the ground.
There are a few telltale signs when a crack in drywall has originated from foundation issues. The first is that the cracks in your drywall have a stair-step pattern. This is a sign of excess pressure from the foundation transferred into the drywall. Another sign is that the crack has originated from door frames. Two other signs that are used to figure out if foundation issues are at play are that the crack is larger than a quarter-inch and if the drywall is bulging or bowing.
