What Causes Cracks In Walls

Other horizontal cracks in walls may be caused by the pressure of a failing wall or indicative of load bearing problems and are a safety concern.

What causes cracks in walls. Causes of cracks in walls if your home was recently built cracks in walls could be the results of new home settling. Finding cracks indoors versus finding cracks outdoors. These cracks are serious and require professional attention. Some cracks are just annoyances while others are symptoms of a larger problem and with a little bit of know how you can tell the difference.

We explore which cracks are cause for concern. Causes of these cracks in masonry walls can be movement of building causing settlement and subsidence. Tracking down the cause or causes of wall cracks is the first step in making any assessment as to the seriousness and cost of repairing wall cracks. Cracks in the walls of your home could indicate serious foundation issues but that s not always the case.

The causes of wall cracks. There s no exact method for determining how serious a wall crack is without hiring an expert to examine the wall but you might be able to. Several types of cracks occur in masonry walls in a building which can be minor and insignificant some requiring expensive repairs and in some extreme cases the only solution is total demolition of the wall. This causes the drywall to get wet soften and deteriorate which then leads to cracking.

This is a sign of structural damage usually related to a weak wall. Cracks that cause concern are those which run across the length of a ceiling and then continue down a wall along the same line. The cracks in your walls form for a reason. That said interior wall cracks often have different causes than exterior wall cracks.

Leaky windows and roofs can cause moisture to get into your home s walls. How to determine if the cracks in walls are serious. Long horizontal cracks that extend along the joints where interior partition walls and upstairs ceilings connect generally signify roof truss issues which cause ceilings to detach from walls. New lumber sometimes called green lumber contains a high level.

If the cracks in your walls are showing discoloration such as brown or yellow tinted stains then the problem may be the result of water damage to your home. Whether cracks occur on the finished surfaces of masonry wood or metal stud walls the most common cause is the movement of building materials.