Above your windows, the drywall may be attached to a header, a sandwich of plywood between two 2 x 10s that provides stability above window openings. The problem is that headers expand and contract due to heat and moisture much more than framing studs. The result is that cracks form in the drywall above the corners of windows.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
FAQs about the causes of and cures for drywall cracks in ceilings or walls.
This article series describes the common causes of all types of cracks that appear in drywall or gypsum board or plasterboard walls & ceilings in building interiors.
We also provide a MASTER INDEX to this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.
These questions and answers about the causes of drywall or gypsum board cracking were posted originally at DRYWALL CRACK CAUSES - be sure to review that photo-catalog of types of drywall crack damage.
On 2019-07-11 by (mod) - what's causing the drywall cracks shown below?
Probably Kerry we're seeing bad tape joints.
But to make a reasonable diagnosis of the cause and significance of these cracks I'd need to know answers to all of the following
What is your country, city, climate?
How old is the building and how old is the drywall and how old are the windows?
Do the cracks appear only around windows or also at other outside corners of the home?
Where else do these cracks appear? Are they only vertical? Are there horizontal occurrences?
Are there cracks that are diagonal?
Are there cracks not at these outside corners around window openings?
When did you first notice the cracks.
Look closely at the opposing sides of each crack for any signs of vertical movement (which I suspect is absent)
Are there any leaks? Drafts? Insect damage?
On 2019-07-11 by Kerry
Last one! Please check other 3 images. The builder seems to think a plasterer can skim over it lol! What is causing this? Huge separation in drywall, I also have closed nail pops and a very alarming ridge running horizontally the hall where my stairs are.
On 2019-07-11 11:30:04.232472 by Kerry.
Here are some bizzare cracks appearing around window and door frames in my home.
On 2019-06-06 14:10:09.254270 by Fernando Funes
Good morning. In the following floor plan interior condition, and taking into account that both surfaces (render and gypsum) will be paint finish: how to avoid cracks along gypsum/render encounter? Expansion joint tape/paper, caulking, both, other method.?
Thank you in advance.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-04-23 2 by Anonymous
the crack areas are along the ceiling where the walls that have cinderblock that separates each apartment on bathe sides. They are sporadic throughout each room and not just around the corners.
Like the ceiling is cracking some areas the paint looks so thick and heavy. It doesn’t look like settling in my opinion. Some reason my apartment has the most of that black thick looking stuff.
My neighbor 2 doors down has ceiling cracks very defined however, hers is in middle of kitchen living room area like if it adjusts too much, it just might break through.
This is one picture I took in the water heater closet between kitchen wall and my bedroom closet wall.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-04-23 by CJ Noelani
Same lit’l black things on shelving over my water heater which is inside a closet behind remodeled kitchen sink wall
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-04-23 by Anonymous - scared of drywall dust
I’ve tried to get things looked at all with red tape, runarounds, even after lease renewal inspection recently. Maintenance person keeps stating *what issues are* that clearly makes no logical sense & completely untrue. Which is extremely frustrating and goes nowhere now for over a year.
He fixed kitchen double sink due to leaks & now water from other side of garbage disposal is spitting up at me if I’m running water down the disposal side, he fixed peeling paint in bathroom where the wall and tub meet, it’s peeling even more, the stuff he used is drying with water marks and crumbled powder substance on the floor,
During management inspection not health dept since they haven’t been here I’m told for more than 5 years, that these cracks along the interior walls at the ceiling/wall edge is nothing, yet the cracks are getting more defined with black pebbles on top of the kitchen upper cabinets where that black stuff is. Accused me of putting food in kitchen disposal even tho I do not, maybe rarely does a lit’l bit of food goes down but I run water, turn on disposal
I use baking soda mostly for cleaning in which he told me baking soda will eat the plastic piping indicating that I’m the one causing the issue by doing that and any plumber would tell me that. That I should only be using *hot water* to clean, nothing else. That doesn’t fully make sense to me. I once used blue food coloring to see where the water is going on the counter tops since they’re not sealed, after first time he disputed me and it showed the leak in bathroom sink
Whoever remodeled in 2010, made new walls I discovered as i was doing fueng shui to place a mirror. So the tub was replaced, smaller in size, don’t know if the tile was removed or not since the wall that goes with the tub now covers but I don’t think they sealed the 2 or if you’re supposed to or not since I get same black pebbles coming out the space between them. Only a few here and there. There’s many times I can smell foul rotten eggs, musty that hurts my nose causing headaches
I can’t afford a whole bunch of testing since I’m a single mom on disability dealing with health concerns of my 5 year old even more so since we moved in. So I’m trying to narrow down so I can test least expensive but effective way. The maintenance person is not helping by turning it back at me.
Sorry so long. This site has been very informative and helpful in many ways. Mahalos
0 
Star