Drywall Cracks
Cracks in your drywall can raise questions—and concerns. What do these cracks mean? What could be causing them? Often, drywall cracks are symptomatic of underlying foundation issues that need professional attention.
With decades of experience across Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Northeast NC, and West Virginia, JES Foundation Repair specializes in diagnosing and addressing foundation concerns. Keep reading to understand the reasons behind drywall cracks, how to fix them, and why contacting JES Foundation Repair is your best first step.
What Are Drywall Cracks?
Drywall cracks are fractures that appear in the drywall boards that make up your interior walls and ceilings. These cracks are often indicators of shifts or settling in the home’s foundation. Drywall is not known for its structural strength, making it susceptible to cracking when there’s movement below.
Common signs of drywall cracks include:
- Diagonal cracks extending from corners of doors or windows up toward the ceiling
- Cracks above doors and windows
- Long horizontal or vertical cracks along walls and ceilings
- Spiderweb-like crack patterns
Even minor fissures could signify serious foundation problems. The larger the crack, the more urgent the need for a foundation assessment.
What Causes Drywall Cracks?
Drywall cracks can arise from several factors:
- Settling and Soil Movement: All homes will eventually experience some settlement as the soil naturally compacts. However, excessive or uneven settlement due to erosion, compression, or soil expansion causes foundation cracks that transfer to the drywall.
- Structural Foundation Issues: Problems like sinking supports or bowed walls lead to drywall cracking as the foundation moves.
- Home Additions or Renovations: Sometimes, home improvements or remodeling can lead to additional weight distributed disproportionately, foundational changes and therefore cracking.
- Water Damage: Water intrusion from leaky pipes, poor drainage or gutters can weaken or erode the soil surrounding a home’s foundation leading to cracks.
Ignoring these signs risks escalating problems and costly future repairs.
How Can Drywall Cracks Be Fixed?
The appearance of drywall cracks often signals a deeper issue that may lie with your home’s foundation. While you may be tempted to simply patch up these unsightly lines and repaint the wall, it’s crucial to understand that this can be a Band-Aid solution if the root cause isn’t addressed. At JES Foundation Repair, we prioritize identifying and solving the underlying problems to provide you with a durable, long-term fix for your drywall cracks.
Here are some options:
- Small Cracks: A simple patch and paint job might suffice, but remember, the issue could reappear if the problem that caused the crack is not addressed.
- Major Cracks: These might require comprehensive foundation repair — such as piers, footings, waterproofing, or wall reinforcements — followed by drywall replacement.
How JES Foundation Repair Can Help
At JES Foundation Repair, our expert team will uncover the specific cause of your home’s drywall cracks and utilizes a range of proprietary foundation repair techniques:
- Steel foundation piers (helical or push piers) for deep-ground support
- Basement and crawl space waterproofing systems, such as interior drainage or sump pumps
- For homeowners with basements: wall anchors, steel I-beams, and/or carbon fiber straps.
- For homeowners with crawl spaces: crawl space support jacks. We also offer crawl space encapsulation to stop moisture from contributing to further foundation damage.
By addressing the root causes, we aim to provide a long-term fix for your drywall cracks, complete with extensive warranties.
Why Should I Address Drywall Cracks Now?
The impulse to ignore or postpone dealing with drywall cracks is understandable; after all, these issues often seem cosmetic and easily fixable. However, the reality is far different, and delaying action can result in a range of problems that are both costlier and more complicated to resolve:
- Drywall cracks get worse over time.
- Drywall cracks can lower your home’s resale value, not only because of the aesthetic but because of what the cracks reveal about the home’s foundation.
- The issues that lead to drywall cracks only become more complicated and severe over time, which in turn leads to more expense.
Choose JES Foundation Repair
Secure your home’s future by scheduling a free inspection today with JES Foundation Repair. Serving Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Northeast NC, and West Virginia, we’re your trusted partners in foundation repair.
FAQs
While you can technically patch and paint over drywall cracks, this is usually a temporary fix if the root problem is related to your home’s foundation. It’s best to consult with professionals like JES Foundation Repair to ensure that you’re not merely masking a deeper issue that will reappear or worsen over time.
Coverage for drywall cracks varies depending on your insurance policy and the root cause of the cracks. If the cracks are due to sudden, accidental events like a burst pipe, your policy may cover repairs. However, if the cracks are related to ongoing foundation issues, those are generally not covered, making it even more crucial to address problems early to minimize costs.
The cost of repairing drywall cracks can vary widely depending on the extent of the damage and the underlying issues causing the cracks. Simple patching and painting can be relatively inexpensive, but if the cracks are due to foundation problems, the overall repair costs could be significantly higher. We recommend getting a free inspection from JES Foundation Repair for a precise estimate tailored to your specific situation.
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