How to Deal with a Settling House - Patching Cracks in Sheetrock
Something that needs to be done eventually in almost any house is patching cracks in sheetrock . Cracks can appear for several reasons and are either called hairline or structural cracks. When cracks become noticeable, it’s time to repair the damage using spackling compound, sheetrock repair mud and paint.
Cracks can appear almost anywhere in sheetrock. Some cracks show up in corners while others run right down the middle of a wall. Many cracks appear between the ceiling and interior door jambs. The location of cracking is unpredictable, but when it happens, they need to be repaired.
Patching Cracks in Sheetrock
Hairline cracks are usually due to either faulty installation or defective sheetrock. Just like any construction work, sheetrock installation must be done in a way that fits the framing of the house. A poor quality installation will show up eventually and it’s usually in the form of hairline cracks.
Structural cracks, on the other hand, are due to the house shifting or settling. Almost any house will settle after it’s built which causes the framing to shift. When that happens, sheetrock will almost always crack. Another reason for structural cracks is due to the wood in the framing contracting and expanding as the outside temperature changes.
Properly patching cracks in sheetrock means you need to use the right kind of patching material. If the compound is too dry or brittle, a new crack will form in the patch. In fact, even in new construction, cracks often appear in corners where the mud was applied too thick or was too dry. If it’s too thick, some of the mud needs to be sanded before the crack is fixed. It the mud was too dry and cracked like a dry lake bed, the crack must be patched first and then sanded.
An experienced contractor can patch cracks in sheetrock so professionally you’ll never know the crack existed. The crack is cleaned out to get rid of any loose mud. Then wallboard compound, sheetrock paper tape and more compound is applied to cover the crack. The compound is sanded and then painted. This description makes it sound so simple, but in reality a contractor makes it look easy because of experience. It takes an understanding of wallpaper compound and patience to fill sheetrock cracks so they virtually disappear.
For more information on patching cracks in sheetrock
Ready to get quotes from Painting contractors?
Start Here