I just finished a house about 8 months ago. Two days ago I was speaking with the owner who told me that the drywall was cracking in a few spots on the ceiling and walls. I haven’t had this happen before and was wondering what might be the underlying problem or prblems?
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pretty open question. Pictures would help or at least an explanation with details.
Maybe there was a minor earthquake under his house after you left...lol
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Well I just got the call this weekend and I haven't been back out to the house yet. But, pictures, that's a good idea; I'll take my camera.
As far as more details....... the house is stick built on a superior wall foundation with bonus room trusses framing the roof and second floor. The owner said the cracks were around some of the skylights and on some of the walls. As for the rest of the details I won't know 'til I get there.
And no.....no eathquakes.
around the skylights might be some corner bead issues. Might need some more nails and a spit more durabond.
Sounds like a job for Durabond 45 and yer good to go (you hope)
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
i always apply fiber tape to corner beads before mudding. no cracks, ever.
I don't use fiberglass tape...just corner bead...and no cracks....but not everyone is as good as me : )
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
you don't say where the house is ... nor have you filled out your profile
how do they heat the house ?
if you go down in the basement and measure the joists, i bet you find about a half inch of shrinkage
stick a moisture meter in te framing and the trim.... probabaly around 5% ....
should be around 12%
measure the RH..... probably around 15% to 20%.... should be 30% to 50%
Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 2/16/2009 8:33 am ET by MikeSmith
Shrinkage of the framing wood and/or truss uplift.
Tell him it's normal, and do a good-guy-retape of the spots after a year.
Forrest
Thanks to both of you guys for replying. I appreciate your input. I'll be checking out the situation tomorrow and these thoughts give me a little more to go on.
I'll definitely be re-mudding it for him. He's already said he'd repaint himself which is great.
Thanks again
don't forget to remind him to prime the newly touched up mud you do before he top coats or he'll be calling you back again for the paint peeling : )
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
"don't forget to remind him to prime the newly touched up mud you do before he top coats or he'll be calling you back again for the paint peeling : )"..........and for telegraphing the touchup work.
Andy, Nothing to do with construction ( well i guess it does encompass everything) but I noticed the ram dass. org in your note. I still have my 'Be Here Now' second printing ( with price of $3.33) and my "Toward The One". 'Be Here Now' was probably one of the more pivotable books in my life. Good to know Baba is going strong. Good to keep that in your work.
Edited 2/16/2009 11:39 pm ET by ReedB
Good to keep that in your work.
Couldn't have said that better myself...
Spent a full week each year with RD over the past 4-5 years till he got sick again a year ago. He's doing fine now but doesn't travel anymore.
His last book about growing old is pretty good. A fun read. He wrote it after he had his stroke...or as he puts it now, "after I was stroked".
The books name is kinda a spoof on his original Be Here Now but now after the stroke decades later https://www.amazon.com/dp/1573228710?tag=clifforenova-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1573228710&adid=1ZDHGM3X4VHFS8QK3G6Y&
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Edited 2/16/2009 6:46 pm ET by andybuildz
Hey, I think I bought my copy of Be Here Now when it was 13.33 per copy, but it's been a while since I 've picked it up. As for the tips thanks again. It's great to get a question out there to help a person think.
Frankie, I agree with you on the heat thing. It was a spec house we built for this guy and he's not been living in it so I can only imagine that the temperature has been all over the place.
Andy and Reed, thanks for the priming tip. I've already been through that one and won't forget it that easily.
Oh, and..... Mike, thanks for the tips about my profile. I see that I'm only running at about 40% and should at least be maintining 80%, but since I'm brand new to this forum maybe you could see it in your heart to forgive me my shortcomings.
cheers
I don't know where you're located but it may be a good idea to wait until after the heating season. As long as heating is going on there will be more shrinkage and therefore movement.
When we do large scale projects, we tell clients that in a year we can/ will return to address any cracks, which normally occur - but only after a year.
Frankie
Flay your Suffolk bought-this-morning sole with organic hand-cracked pepper and blasted salt.
Thrill each side for four minutes at torchmark haut. Interrogate a lemon.
Embarrass any tough roots from the samphire. Then bamboozle till it's al dente with that certain je ne sais quoi.
Arabella Weir as Minty Marchmont - Posh Nosh