Hairline Cracks In Ceiling Causes

Cracks that cause concern are those which run across the length of a ceiling and then continue down a wall along the same line.

Hairline cracks in ceiling causes. Cracks in the ceiling can be cosmetic or indicative of a serious structural problem. This is a sign of structural damage usually related to a weak wall. Where do you often see drywall cracks. The older a structure is the more likely that stress moisture and temperature will cause the formation of cracks.

Poor workmanship is the most common. A crack that is an 1 8 inch wide and only two feet long in a corner will not be given as much weight as a ceiling with 1 4 inch wide cracks three or five feet long and that appear in a number of locations. Whether cracks occur on the finished surfaces of masonry wood or metal stud walls the most common cause is the movement of building materials. While the natural movement of building materials surprises many homeowners engineers architects and builders expect and plan for natural settling shrinking and swelling.

Ceiling cracks happen naturally over time as a result of many factors. The most common areas are the corners of doors and windows as well. The majority of the time they are considered cosmetic and can be covered over when repainting is done. Several other factors however can accelerate effect of wear and tear.

While unattractive cracks in your ceiling usually aren t a cause for alarm unless they accompany other problems such as blackened drywall or a known leak. These cracks are most commonly seen in areas where the structure develops more stress than other areas. Cracks that are an 1 8 or 1 4 of an inch wide or more would easily fall into this category. If your ceilings are plastered cracks are often attributable to weathering of the plaster.

Sometimes the movement can be a little more than we would want and cause visible cracks in the surfaces especially in the ceilings. Some of them are serious and some are. Hairline cracks in plaster walls are not uncommon and are purely cosmetic and caused by the slight contraction and expansion of the mortar of the house during seasonal changes. Hairline cracks over doors and windows are likely due to settling.

What causes cracks in the ceiling. Cracks in the ceiling can be caused by many different causes. All structures move slightly and it is a good thing they do otherwise buildings would crack and break at the first vibration. Houses of any age move and shift subtly over time and the weakest area in a wall is the most likely to crack.

Ceilings that have multiple cracks that are more than just a small hairline crack are a concern.