Drywall has been used in the construction of countless homes across the United States because of how sturdy and durable it can be.
Drywall has been used in the construction of countless homes across the United States because of how sturdy and durable it can be.
Millions of people depend on drywall to keep their homes protected. As such, imperfections are scary.
You’ve likely experienced that shocking moment when you look up at your wall only to notice a small crack at around a 45-degree angle spreading across certain parts of the wall.
It doesn’t matter how long or wide the crack is, it’s unnerving regardless! That’s why you found yourself reading this exact article.
Normally, a 45-degree crack in your drywall is an indicator of your home settling into its foundations. It is very rarely ever a signal of anything more concerning. If you notice a 45-degree crack in your drywall, make sure not to panic. Contact a professional if you are concerned.
What Does A 45 Degree Drywall Crack Indicate?
Luckily, in most cases, cracks in your drywall are bound to happen. Especially as a home settles into its foundations and shifts about slightly.
The angle of a specific crack in drywall can be indicative of a number of specific things. A 45-degree angle in your drywall is most commonly an indicator of a shear crack.
The reason your crack may be pointed at a 45-degree angle may be because the foundation wall of your home is tilting. The earth pushing back at the wall could cause the walls of the home to strain slightly and crack at 45-degree angles.
A 45-degree crack in your drywall may also be indicative of problems with moisture during the process of building the home.
If the framing of your home is wet when you are laying the foundations of your drywall then it will shrink as it dries.. This places a bit of pressure on all sides of the drywall. This can then cause it to crack.
What Should You Do If you Notice A 45-Degree Crack In Your Drywall?
If you notice a 45-degree crack in your drywall, it’s important that you don’t panic. 45-degree cracks are most often the result of your home settling into position, and as such it likely is not a significant risk.
If you are concerned about any cracks in your drywall, you should try contacting a home inspector. Have them assess the damage to try and ascertain what may have caused it, and what some solutions may be.
This is the best thing to do, because it allows you to access some expert opinions and helps to keep you from making it worse!
If you know what it is that is causing cracks in your drywall at 45-degree angles, then you may be able to make repairs yourself.
There are small solutions that you can purchase to spread carefully into the cracks. This hides them from view. Then you can simply paint over it.
However, you should generally avoid taking matters into your own hands with repairs. Wait until you have had the home properly looked at by a professional.
This will help you to know if your home is at risk. It will also help you to find a more permanent solution. You won’t have to keep painting over new cracks that appear on the surface of the walls.
What Do Other Types of Drywall Cracks Indicate?
There are countless other ways that cracks in drywall may be shaped when they appear, so let’s take a look at a few of those.
Wide Cracks
Generally, 45-degree cracks in your drywall may be of a hairline thickness, indicating that they are not too troublesome.
However, in some cases, you may notice cracks that are much thicker, and these are likely to be of much more concern.
If you can stick the point of a nail cleanly through a crack, then it is safe to consider it to be too wide. Wide cracks can be particularly annoying if they allow light to leak into the home from outside.
If you notice wide cracks in your walls, make sure that you contact a professional as soon as possible.
Horizontal Cracks
Horizontal cracks usually appear between ceilings or roofs and their closest walls. If you notice cracks moving in a horizontal direction, it could be a sign that the connections between the walls and your roof or ceiling are not sufficient. This causes the two to become detached.
We strongly recommend that you contact a professional to take a look at the foundations of your home. They will ensure that they are sufficient.
Vertical Cracks
Vertical cracks are a little more likely to show up in the home, so if you do notice them, don’t panic. These are usually as a result of foundations, and the house settling into position.
They should only really be a point of concern if you notice the cracks widening or growing longer!
Don’t patch them up too quickly when you spot them, take some time to see if they get worse. If they do, contact a professional!
Wet Cracks
Generally, one of the types of cracks you should be most concerned about are wet cracks. Wet cracks can be a sign of water somehow infiltrating your home and your walls. If you were to leave wet cracks unattended, then there may be a real risk of those cracks becoming dangerous.
To Wrap Up
There you have it! If you notice a 45-degree drywall crack, the most important thing to remember is to not panic.
If you notice a 45-degree crack, it is not always indicative of a larger problem. However, you may want to contact a professional to have them ascertain the issue and find a solution!
Leave a comment