Crack in ceiling of new house

Your home may need to be inspected thoroughly by a professional to assess the extent of the cracks if it was left vacant for a very long time after construction.

Water leakages are not only present in old houses as they can also occur in new structures. Leaky roofs and windows cause moisture to get into the walls of your home. It softens and deteriorates as it gets wet causing progressive cracks on the surrounding walls. Some early signs of water leakages include discoloration or tinted stains on the ceiling. This problem is often caused by the inferior construction of the roof and poor insulation around windows and other small openings. The seams between drywall panels are often filled with drywall mud before they are covered with paper tape.

However, the tape may start to pull away from the wall with time if there is not enough mud underneath it to stick firmly. This can cause fine cracks in the area where the tape has lifted. These minor cracks can be repaired using a little household glue and pressing it back into place. However, if the tape seems to be lifting in several areas then consider re-taping the seams to prevent the problem from occurring in the future. Cracks in a newly constructed home are common and can occur either naturally or because of structural problems.

It is important to address these issues as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming bigger problems. It can be seasonal shrinkage and expansion due to cold and heat, or the movement can be caused by slow settling into the ground below the home. As a result, cracks are a natural part of any home, whether in the walls or the ceilings.

If you are looking at the cracks in your ceiling and trying to determine if they caused by age or are a sign of structural damage, there are a few things to check. The first, and most obvious, determiner in structural and age-related cracks is their size.

Spiderweb cracks are a normal part of a home settling over the years. They can run throughout the home, not only on the ceiling but also on the walls, floors, grout joints in tile installations and concrete slabs. Cracks that cause concern are those which run across the length of a ceiling and then continue down a wall along the same line.

Homes naturally settle as they age, which can create crevices in the walls and ceilings typically above doors and windows as well as in corners. These superficial hairline cracks can usually be re-taped—but, if the house continues to settle, the cracks are likely to reappear in the same spots. Since plaster is extremely rigid, the slightest movement can cause a gap. Typically, plaster ceiling cracks have two causes: house settling and temperature or moisture fluctuations in an attic, which result in the expansion or contraction of framing members.

Solution: Homeowners can fill these commonly occurring hairline cracks with new plaster and repaint the ceiling. If you have wider cracks or sections of loose plaster, the lath system beneath the plaster is likely failing—in which case, the plaster should be removed and replaced with drywall. When a ceiling bows or sags, you have a problem that requires prompt attention.

A ceiling may also crack or bow due to the incorrect removal of a load-bearing wall or damage to other support members. Solution: A structural engineer or a reputable builder should examine the ceiling as soon as possible to determine the best way to remedy the situation. Disclosure: BobVila. You agree that BobVila.