Varieties Of Ceiling Cracks With Photos (April 2023)
Ceiling cracks is usually a supply of concern for owners. Whereas most ceiling cracks could also be beauty and never trigger critical issues, others can point out extra critical structural injury. This publish covers the varied varieties of ceiling cracks with footage, so you’ll be able to establish what sort of crack you might be coping with and what you could restore it.
Understanding the several types of ceiling cracks is important for any home-owner to find out the right plan of action. From a hairline crack to structural cracks, it’s important to know the important thing traits of every sort of ceiling crack. They could point out various things in regards to the situation and your own home’s structural integrity.
Associated: The Totally different Forms of Ceiling Texture and Ceiling Finishes You Ought to Know and Cracking Noise In Ceiling At Night time: What Is It?
Hairline Ceiling Cracks
Hairline cracks are skinny cracks usually seen as straight or barely curved strains on the floor of the ceiling. They vary from a number of inches to a number of toes lengthy, sometimes lower than 1/16 inch large. These could also be barely seen or considerably noticeable relying on the paint colour of the ceiling and the room’s lighting circumstances.
Usually, hairline cracks aren’t instantly noticeable and are solely found when somebody is searching for them or performing a routine inspection. Every other injury doesn’t normally accompany them apart from possibly tiny bubbles or peeling paint close to the crack.
These ceiling cracks aren’t sometimes a trigger for concern and are sometimes the results of the same old settling of the constructing supplies over time. For instance, it’s regular for the muse to settle as a home ages, inflicting the ceiling to crack barely. Equally, the drying and shrinking of constructing supplies also can trigger small cracks within the ceiling.
Typically, hairline cracks are superficial cracks and don’t pose a structural risk. You possibly can ignore them or cowl them up in order for you. There are a number of methods to restore hairline cracks if you wish to eliminate them altogether. You possibly can patch them with spackle compound, paint over it, or apply drywall tape (1).
Nevertheless, it’s a good suggestion to observe the expansion of those few cracks and test for any adjustments to them.
Associated: Drop Ceiling vs. Drywall Ceiling in Basement Which is Greatest?
Straight Ceiling Cracks
instance: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/some-age-related-damage-paintwork-608357303
Straight ceiling cracks are slim cracks that run vertically, horizontally, or at a slight angle within the ceiling. These cracks are normally uniform in look as a straight line and would not have any irregular or jagged edges. Usually, straight cracks aren’t a trigger for concern and will be simply repaired.
Straight cracks are normally brought on by errors made through the ceiling drywall set up course of. For instance, drywall mud points or insufficient taping of the drywall joints. Over time, the drywall tape can’t correctly follow the drywall joint and peels away. Basis settlement or excessive humidity can exacerbate it as effectively.
Typically, you’ll be able to simply restore straight cracks. To finish these minor beauty touch-ups, take away the unfastened tape, sand the floor beneath, apply the brand new drywall tape, and use a putty knife to cowl it with a skinny layer of drywall compound.
Earlier than making use of one other layer or trying to color, it’s essential to make sure the floor is totally dry. If the cracks are extra in depth or have any structural injury, it could be vital to switch the drywall.
Associated: How To Cowl Popcorn Ceiling With out Eradicating It? Discover Choices Right here!
Spiderweb Cracks
Spiderweb ceiling cracks are characterised by a sample of cracks that unfold out from a central level, resembling the rays of a spider internet. These cracks usually seem as a sequence of superb, skinny strains intersecting and crossing over each other, forming web-like cracks over the ceiling.
They could be uniform in look or can differ in width and depth over the ceiling’s floor. Basically, the spiderweb sample of cracks is often symmetrical and radiates out from a central level, giving the looks of a fragile, lacy community of strains on the ceiling.
There are a number of things that would trigger spiderweb cracks within the ceiling, akin to moisture injury or basis settlement. They’ll additionally seem as a consequence of adjustments in temperature and humidity ranges and even regular put on and tear.
Over time, the home’s basis settles and might strain the construction, weakening the body and drywall and inflicting crawling cracks within the ceiling. Though these cracks might not be giant, spiderweb cracks will be an early indicator of the compromised structural integrity of your own home. This will imply you want skilled evaluation and restore.
Whereas these cracks are normally not a structural concern, they are often ugly and will have an effect on the looks and worth of a house. Repairing spiderweb cracks sometimes entails filling within the cracks with joint compound and sanding the floor clean, adopted by a recent coat of paint.
As talked about, some circumstances require skilled restore of the cracked ceiling to make sure the house’s construction just isn’t compromised. Contact knowledgeable contractor for evaluation and restore if the cracks are wider than 1/16 inch.
Associated: How Lengthy Does Joint Compound Take To Dry? Discover out quick!
Discolored Ceiling Cracks
Discolored cracks are virtually at all times a critical concern. These ceiling cracks sometimes have a yellow, brown, or blackish look. The discoloration is normally concentrated across the crack however can unfold out and canopy a bigger ceiling space.
The colour and extent of the discoloration rely upon the reason for the crack and might differ. Yellow or brown cracks within the ceiling normally point out water injury, which might trigger critical injury to the home. If the discoloration and cracks are accompanied by sagging or warping of the ceiling, this exhibits a extra significant issue, akin to structural issues from water injury.
Water injury causes discoloration and cracks within the ceiling if there’s a leak within the roof or plumbing. This may end up in swelling and warping of the ceiling materials, which might trigger the paint to crack and peel.
As well as, mildew can develop in damp, humid circumstances and trigger discoloration and marking on the ceiling. Mildew also can emit a musty odor and hurt folks’s well being.
If the ceiling has brown or yellow cracks, it is best to handle them promptly to forestall additional injury. Within the case of water injury, fixing the leak and eradicating any broken supplies are important. If there’s mildew, it is best to have it eliminated by knowledgeable utilizing correct security precautions.
Associated: Water Harm Classes You Should Know Earlier than Doing Something
Massive Cracks and Bowed Ceiling
bowed instance: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/crack-ceiling-surface-paint-stucco-damaged-2160148151
A bowed ceiling with giant, deep cracks has a noticeable and regarding look. The cracks are deep and large, usually operating in a number of instructions throughout the ceiling. The bowing is characterised by its concave form within the ceiling, which is very noticeable from beneath. It will possibly seem as a dropping or sagging ceiling, with the center or edges showing extra pronounced.
Massive, deep ceiling cracks accompanied by bowing point out extreme structural injury to the home. A number of elements, together with water injury, poor workmanship, or weight-bearing issues, may cause a bowed ceiling.
The presence of bigger cracks at the side of bowing is a transparent signal that underlying extreme issues have to be addressed promptly. These structural issues can result in a full or partial ceiling collapse if not addressed.
Water injury is a typical reason for bowing in ceilings. This may be brought on by a roof or plumbing leak. Water penetrating the ceilings and partitions may cause swelling and warping of the supplies, which might finally trigger the ceiling to bow. Water injury also can trigger mildew to develop, which might have critical well being penalties for the occupant.
Poor development also can result in these harmful ceiling cracks. For instance, suppose the ceiling just isn’t adequately supported. In that case, it might probably start to bow below its personal weight, particularly if the constructing is older or the ceiling is constructed from heavy supplies. Moreover, water and moisture can penetrate the home if the ceiling just isn’t sealed appropriately.
Figuring out what’s inflicting the problem is vital so you may get that repaired and stop any additional structural injury to your own home. If the cracked ceiling is accompanied by bowing, it’s essential to contact a structural engineer to examine your home and guarantee it’s repaired promptly.
Cracks Between the Ceiling and Wall
Cracks between the ceiling and wall might sound peculiar, however they’ll point out structural issues. The commonest trigger is a truss uplift, when the ceiling body pulls away from the wall (2).
Regardless of the trigger, some of these cracks are seen strains or fissures that separate the ceiling and wall surfaces. Cracks between the ceiling and the wall can come in several sizes and lengths. As well as, they’ll seem as each horizontal and vertical cracks alongside the floor.
The looks of cracks between the ceiling and the wall can differ relying on the reason for the crack. Cracks brought on by settling the home’s basis could also be bigger and extra pronounced close to the room’s corners. Alternatively, cracks brought on by water injury could also be broader and deeper close to the supply of the leak.
Alternatively, cracks brought on by shifting partitions could seem extra randomly, with no obvious correlation to the placement of the shift. In some circumstances, the cracks could have seen indicators of injury, akin to buckling the wall, cracking paint, and even mildew progress, relying on the trigger.
Much like the bowed ceiling, cracks between the ceiling and wall will be harmful and require a immediate analysis. To handle some of these ceiling cracks, you will need to decide the reason for the issue and take acceptable motion. A basis restore specialist could also be vital to guage the mandatory repairs to take care of the home’s structural integrity.
Forms of ceiling cracks with footage FAQ
How have you learnt if a ceiling crack is critical?
To find out the seriousness of a ceiling crack, assess its measurement, form, location, and age. A few of the most obvious indications of a extreme subject are discoloration or water stains, a visibly drooping or sagging ceiling, and a number of in depth cracks all through the realm.
Suppose it’s giant, quickly rising, or accompanied by different indicators of structural injury. In that case, it’s thought-about a critical subject, and it’s best to hunt the recommendation of knowledgeable.
Are hairline cracks in ceilings regular?
Hairline ceiling cracks are usually thought-about to be regular and are sometimes the results of the muse settling. They’re normally not critical and don’t at all times point out structural injury; nevertheless, it’s at all times a good suggestion to observe the expansion of the hairline cracks and test for adjustments.
You possibly can normally restore them by making use of drywall compound and portray over them, however it’s thought-about superficial and pointless until you wish to.
What does a straight crack within the ceiling imply?
Straight ceiling cracks happen when the drywall tape fails to stay correctly to the drywall panels and begins to peel away. That is usually as a consequence of inadequate plaster through the ceiling drywall set up course of and will also be exacerbated by basis settlement and excessive humidity.
Ought to I fear about hairline cracks within the ceiling?
No, a hairline crack or two is normally not a trigger for concern. These small cracks are normally the results of regular settling over time. Due to this fact, it’s thought-about a superficial drawback and will be repaired rapidly; nevertheless, monitoring these for any adjustments is important.
