As your home settles, cracks can become apparent in your ceiling. This is an area that needs to be addressed quickly as water can seep in and create more damage to your home’s structure. Allowing these cracks to fester in your ceiling can mean a real problem to the foundation of your house, or they can simply mean that your home is showing signs of wear.
Age And Moisture Problems
Small ceiling cracks are usually symptomatic of wear to your home. As your home ages, these cracks may appear in your ceiling as a result of the deterioration of your home. These cracks are usually small and spider their way across your ceiling. They typically happen within the corners of a room and can be repaired relatively easily without too much cost associated with it.
Moisture can also create cracking in your ceiling as water may be leaking in from your roof or the floor above. While you will notice cracks in your ceiling from water issues, you may also see signs of water damage such as staining or crumbling drywall. Paint can also peel off your ceiling if water is present or you don’t have the proper waterproofing in place.
Foundation Cracking
You need to be especially concerned if the cracks in your ceiling are a result of foundation issues. While some home settling through the course of ownership is typical, major foundation issues can arise and cause your ceilings to crack significantly.
You can identify if you have a foundation issue by the formation of the crack in your ceiling. Cracks that start at the center of a room or make their way down a wall are signs that there is something wrong with your home’s structure. You may also see the ceiling start to bow or lean in a way that is unnatural in its appearance. These cracks are often much larger than a typical wear fracture and need substantial repair to help your ceiling return back to normal.
If your ceiling crack is a result of a foundation problem, you will need to have that address first before you can repair your ceiling’s surface. Repairing your ceiling without addressing what the real issue that is causing the problem in your ceiling can cause these cracks to reappear over time. The same holds true for moisture issues as water will continue to run into your home and affect the same area even more. This can make for a costly repair to your home if not taken care of at the first sign of a problem.
Taking the necessary precautions when you see cracking occurring in your ceiling can help make sure these problems don’t turn into total disasters that are hard to repair. At the first sign of a ceiling issue, investigate what is causing the problem. You may need the help of a professional contractor to identify if you have a foundation issue and understand what steps are necessary to correct it so further cracking doesn’t occur throughout the ceilings in your home.