What Causes Cracks In Walls

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.

What causes cracks in walls.

Causes of cracks in walls if your home was recently built cracks in walls could be the results of new home settling. Whether cracks occur on the finished surfaces of masonry wood or metal stud walls the most common cause is the movement of building materials. Causes of these cracks in masonry walls can be movement of building causing settlement and subsidence. Cracks in the walls of your home could indicate serious foundation issues but that s not always the case.

New lumber sometimes called green lumber contains a high level. The cracks in your walls form for a reason. While the natural movement of building materials surprises many homeowners engineers architects and builders expect and plan for natural settling shrinking and swelling. 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.

Cracks that cause concern are those which run across the length of a ceiling and then continue down a wall along the same line. Finding cracks indoors versus finding cracks outdoors. Other horizontal cracks in walls may be caused by the pressure of a failing wall or indicative of load bearing problems and are a safety concern. Some cracks are just annoyances while others are symptoms of a larger problem and with a little bit of know how you can tell the difference.

That said interior wall cracks often have different causes than exterior wall cracks. Small cracks located above interior windows or doors are usually harmless. These cracks are serious and require professional attention. This causes the drywall to get wet soften and deteriorate which then leads to cracking.

How to determine if the cracks in walls are serious. This is a sign of structural damage usually related to a weak wall. If the cracks in your walls are showing discoloration such as brown or yellow tinted stains then the problem may be the result of water damage to your home. Contents common causes of cracks.

The causes of wall cracks. Tracking down the cause or causes of wall cracks is the first step in making any assessment as to the seriousness and cost of repairing wall cracks.