Why do drywall joints crack

You just moved into your new house or reoccupied rooms that were recently renovated. The new drywall was painted and looks beautiful for the first six months. But after the winter thaw, you start to notice seams cracking and screws popping through the paint.

Perhaps your first inclination is to blame the contractor who did the work. While it is true that poor construction methods can cause screw pops and cracked drywall joints , it may be good to understand some of the many reasons why drywall cracks and screws pop. Many times, it is not at all related to the drywall installation process. The seam where two sheets of drywall meet is a weak point in the wall.

Drywall tapers use mud and tape to give strength to the joint. Drywall tape can be likened to a 'band-aid' for the fault line. Then layers of drywall mud are added to feather the seam smooth with the rest of the wall. When a house settles or walls move, cracks may indicate either weakness in the joint or movement that exceeded expectations.

One reason drywall cracks is because the wrong type of drywall mud was used when taping the seams. Some drywall mud has more adhering ability and should be used when taping drywall , whereas other types of drywall mud should only be used in finishing.

Some drywall mud products are intended only for second or third coats. You can read much more about different types of drywall mud, and when they should be used. Some drywall tapers say that mesh tape should never be used in drywall taping because it is not as strong as paper tape. We have found mesh drywall tape to work well as long as it is bedded-in with hot mud. Using all purpose or lightweight drywall mud with mesh tape can often lead to cracking.

Cracks sometimes develop where drywall corner bead is installed. This is often due to improper installation. Cracks in drywall are always a frustrating, unwelcome thing to find. It ruins the look of a room and usually leads to more cracks and other damage. Part of the reason is that the lumber behind the wall often contains a lot of moisture at first, and as it dries out, it shifts a little. This kind of slight movement can result in small cracks—usually where drywall sheets meet the joints.

Typically, these small cracks are not much to worry about. Give the wall or home a year or two before addressing them, so the wood has more time to finish drying and settling. Then you can re-tape the cracked joints and do some commercial painting. As a house ages, normal wear and tear and settling can result in hairline cracks over high-stress areas such as doors and windows.

Often the cause is the ground beneath the foundation shifting slightly as the weather changes. But if you start seeing more, deeper cracks, or have other concerns, seek out professional advice. If so, some of these issues may need to be addressed to help keep the drywall cracks from coming back. For the majority of cracks a painter would be the appropriate person to seal and cover the cracks.

At times, a drywall contractor or a skilled handyman who can tape and mud joints may be needed. There are many products that can be used such as mesh tape, mesh patch kits, drywall mud and caulking. In some instances depending on the type of texture on the wall, it may be difficult for the homeowner to properly match the existing texture pattern.

In this case an experienced drywall contractor is recommended although the majority of small cracks can be filled and repainted such that they cannot be noticed easily. By using a mesh tape product the crack is less likely to show up again. Simply applying some drywall mud or spackle will not be very strong and you may find that even the normal expansion and contraction from temperature fluctuations may be enough to cause the crack again.

If a load bearing wall is removed, there are structural issues and risks that homeowners and buyers should be aware of. When the drywall tape in a corner area or where the wall meets the ceiling has a wrinkled look, then it may be caused by humidity, workmanship or movement. Additional Resources. Do you believe that tree roots can really cause the drywall to crack in a home? Know which ceiling cracks are serious and which ones are just cosmetic.

Drywall nails and screws sticking out or sunken in? Is the house new or old? Drywall tape - loose, bubbles or wrinkled.