As a homeowner, we know you strive to keep your living space in pristine condition. Yet despite your best efforts, you sometimes come across unwelcome guests in your home – cracks. Specifically, those that form where the wall meets the ceiling. Not only are they unsightly, but they can also be a source of concern.
Is it merely cosmetic, or could it signal a deeper structural issue?
In this article, we’ll examine what causes these cracks and when you should be concerned about them.
What Causes Cracks Where A Wall Meets The Ceiling?
Cracks where a wall meets the ceiling are a common issue in buildings.
Should you notice such cracks in your dwelling, they could be a result of:
1) Foundation Movement
Over time, buildings can settle or slightly shift due to the soil composition underneath the foundation or changes in moisture levels in the ground. This natural movement can cause cracks as the components of the house shift.
When water is present near your home’s foundation, the soil around it can swell as it soaks up water and shrinks as it dries out. This can cause the foundation to move slightly upwards (foundation heave) or downwards (subsidence), especially in clay-rich soils. Tree roots can also cause foundation movement as they grow or absorb moisture from the ground.
If your house is new, it is common for the foundation to settle a little bit after construction. Foundation settlement means the soil beneath your home has compacted and settled, causing the foundation to sink slightly. This is normal and expected, especially in the first few years after construction. This can cause stress in your house’s frames and walls, leading to cracks and other minor problems. However, movement beyond the acceptable limit may cause structural damage and require foundation repair.
2) Temperature Changes
Most materials expand and contract as temperature changes. The same is true for building materials. This can cause stress at the points where structural elements meet (like the joint between the wall and the ceiling), leading to cracks. A substantial temperature change from summer to winter may lead to cracks.
3) Truss Uplift
Trusses are engineered structures made of timber or steel that support the roof. Like other materials, wood and steel can move or warp in response to moisture and temperature changes, causing a lifting or curving motion. It can translate into cracks in areas like where walls meet the ceiling, especially if your home is new.
4) Humidity Changes
Fluctuations in humidity can cause materials in your home, such as wood framing and drywall, to expand and contract. Moisture from leaks or high humidity can weaken the joint tape or cause the drywall compound to deteriorate. This is particularly prevalent in climates with significant seasonal changes in moisture levels.
5) Improper Drywall Installation
If the drywall wasn’t correctly installed, it might not have had enough support or been fastened too tightly. Drywall seams are typically covered with joint tape and compound. If this isn’t applied correctly, it can peel or crack, causing visible cracks on the edges of walls and ceilings.
If you hired an inexperienced contractor or tried to do the job yourself, you might have missed some important steps.
6) Excessive Vibrations
Most cracks in a home are caused by movement. Regular vibrations from heavy traffic, large appliances, or other sources can cause stresses that lead to cracking.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 to 6.0 can cause slight damage to buildings. Of course, higher magnitudes will cause more severe damage. If you live in an area with a lot of recent seismic activity, it’s important to inspect your home for cracks and other indications of damage.
7) Soil Creep
Another type of foundation movement is soil or downhill creep. Soil creep is a slow and persistent downward movement of soil on a slope. It occurs very gradually over time and is often imperceptible. Numerous factors, such as soil composition, moisture content, gravity, and vegetation, can influence the process.
Soil creep can exert pressure on foundations, walls, and other structural elements. Over time, the pressure can cause structural damage, including cracks. This is because as the soil slowly moves, it can lead to slight but continuous movement of the building’s foundation, causing it to shift or settle unevenly. However, this only happens in hillside areas.
8) Load-Bearing Issues
Cracks, where walls meet ceilings, can signal load-bearing issues, often due to inadequate support or excessive strain from added weight (like a new roof). A sagging ceiling is another indication of a load-bearing issue.
9) Too Many Paint Layers
Over the years, successive layers of paint can build up on walls and ceilings. Each layer adds weight and can eventually lead to reduced flexibility in the paint film. When the wall or ceiling flexes for any reason mentioned earlier, this heavy, inflexible paint can crack rather than stretch.
Types Of Wall And Ceiling Cracks: When To Worry And Not To Worry
Are cracks in the area where the wall meets the ceiling serious? You might have already concluded that some cracks are more severe than others. But how do you know which ones to worry about and which not to worry about?
When Not To Worry:
If the cracks look like the following, you probably don’t need to worry about them:
- Hairline ceiling cracks: The cracks are as fine and thin as spiderwebs, often less than 1 mm wide. These cracks may result from excessive paint layers – ugly but not serious.
- Straight cracks: Cracks that are almost perfectly straight are usually not a problem. These are often the result of improper drywall installation, where the cracks follow the tape lining.
When You Should Be Worried:
If you observe the following signs, you might have to hire a professional to inspect your home.
- Cracks with sagging: If your ceiling and walls have cracks and you notice they are also sagging, you should be worried. This is a sign of a load-bearing issue, and your ceiling might collapse due to inadequate support or too much load.
- Cracks and discoloration: Discoloration might result from a moisture problem, a water leak, or high humidity.
- Diagonal cracks: These types indicate that the drywall is being torn apart, which might indicate a foundation issue.
- Ceiling crack extending across and down a wall.
- Cracks larger than hairline width.
- Doors and windows struggle to open and close smoothly.
- Moldings detaching from walls or ceilings.
- Lengthy horizontal cracks.
- Ceilings and floors are pulling away from walls.
- Regularly occurring and numerous large cracks.
- Crack extending completely across a ceiling, wall, or floor.
- Large and deep cracks.
How Do You Fix Cracks Where A Wall Meets the Ceiling?
If the crack is caused by things like temperature changes, improper drywall installation, or paint build-up, you can just let it be. However, you can use a filler to fill the cracks if they bother you. To fix a poor drywall installation or paint build-up, you can hire a skilled professional to resolve the issue.
Let Professionals Check Your Wall And Ceiling Cracks
For more serious cracks, like the ones listed above, you might have to hire a professional for inspection, determine the cause, and devise a solution. These problems require expertise as the cracks may be caused by a structural issue, such as a foundation problem. If this is the case, you must hire a professional to fix the problem before it worsens.
If you live in the Chicagoland area, including Naperville, Waukegan, and surrounding areas, The Real Seal team is ready to help you. We have years of experience in the industry and can help you determine the cause of your wall or ceiling cracks and provide a solution. Contact us today for more information!
