Ceiling Cracks – When to Worry
Ceiling cracks can be a disturbing thing to see. They could mean that your home suffers from structural damage, or they could only be superficial cracks. This article discusses the differences in cracks and if you should be worried.
What causes ceiling cracks?
Two different things usually cause ceiling cracks. The first is when your home settles. This is a normal thing, and all homes will settle over time.
The other is a foundation or structural issue. This is when you should worry, as a severe problem is happening.
- As your home ages
- Excessive moisture damage
- The upper floor is heavier than it should be
- Poorly installed drywall
- Foundation problems
These are all reasons that could lead to the ceiling of your home developing cracks.
Read below to see when you should begin to worry about your ceiling cracks, and call our ceiling fixers Perth team.
The different types of cracks
Hairline or spiderweb cracks: These cracks will generally be caused by layers of paint being added over the top of one another through the years. They can also happen if your home moves even slightly, such as when it is settling; as long as there is not too many of these, you should not have to worry.
Straight ceiling cracks: These are usually thin cracks that follow a straight line across your ceiling. This is generally due to poor finish work when the drywall was installed and is not usually a sign that your structure is failing.
Discoloured cracks: If the cracks in your ceiling are brown or yellow tinted, this is a sign of water damage. This could be a leaking drain, roof, or a leak from another water source that is causing the issue in your drywall.
Cracks between the top of the wall and ceiling: Truss uplift is the most common cause. This signifies that your trusses are not correctly attached to your non-load-bearing wall.
Ceiling and wall cracks: If you notice that you have both ceiling and wall cracks or that the damage continues from your ceiling and down your wall, then this is a sign that you may have some serious foundation issues.
Bowed ceiling with cracks: This is also a sign that you could have foundation problems beginning to occur. This is also a sign that your trusses could have been improperly installed. But either way, this should be inspected by a professional to ensure that the problem is not too severe.
When should I begin to worry?
There will be other signs throughout your home that you will be able to pair with your cracked drywall to decide if the cracks are superficial or indicative of a more significant problem.
- Cracked foundation or slab
- Drooping, sloped, or sagging floors
- Doors and windows that are getting stuck and don’t want to open
- Sagging roof.
You can also consider some things when deciding how serious your cracks are.
- Were there any earth tremors that could have caused the cracks?
- Is your home beginning to age and could be settling?
- Is your home built on a slope and could be experiencing slope creep or landslides?
In conclusion
Not all cracks are a sign that your home has serious issues. However, if you have any hazardous cracks forming in your house as listed above, or if you feel that there may be something wrong, you should always contact a professional. The team at RCI Perth are only a call away to help inspect your ceiling and your home to ensure that there is nothing for you to worry about.
