Whether it’s made of drywall, plaster, or concrete, a crack in a wall is an eyesore. The natural settling usually causes a cracked wall over time, and it can be repaired on the weekend. Then, you’ll be on your way to a smooth wall with simple tools and materials from your local home improvement store.
However, if the drywall cracking or surface distortion is severe or other signs of significant settling or potential structural problems, have your home assessed by a competent building professional like HydroHelp911 before attempting to fix the drywall.
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We are excellent at what we do at HydroHelp911, and we can assist you with any of your home repair problems. We will come out to your house, inspect the damage, and give you an assessment, so you know how much it’ll cost before we get started. Because our work is guaranteed, you can count on HydroHelp911!
What Is Considered A Cracked Wall?
Wall cracks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A cracked wall is just a wall with an unnaturally long gap in the middle. It is not a crack if a hole is punched in the wall. A crack occurs when the wall splits.
On the other hand, most other sorts of wall damage may be repaired using the advice you’ll learn today. Only a few types of damage, such as water damage, are excluded from the options for wall restoration.
How Does A Cracked Wall Occur?
Cracked walls can occur for a variety of causes. Usually, the reason is natural and unimportant. However, anything can go awry at any time, putting your home in jeopardy. Check out these causes to see if you can figure out what caused your broken wall.
● Impact
The wall may readily crack if subjected to some form of trauma. While blunt force typically results in holes in drywall, it can also generate microscopic fissures in concrete. Cracks are almost typically caused by direct damage.
● Settling
This is the most frequent crack, and it’s also the least dangerous. For the first year or so, this happens with new houses. After that, it’s very natural, and it usually shows up as hairline cracks around doorways.
● Bad Taping
Nothing can cause more unsightly cracks in drywall than shoddy taping. The seams will appear if the taping isn’t done correctly to begin with, especially if the sheet rock isn’t installed tightly. This is never a fun project to repair. Call professional repair services like HydroHelp911 to get help on fixing bad tapings.
● Vacancy
Even on vacation, leaving home empty for too long might develop fractures in the walls. That’s why, even though they’re not being used, abandoned properties require so much maintenance. This is a unique kind of settling.
Cracked Wall Repair – How To Fix It?
● Drywall Repair
Repairing a drywall crack is the quickest of the wall types you’re likely to come across in your house:
- Cut a 1/4 and 1/8 inch V-shaped incision along the length of the crack with a knife.
- Clear any dirt particles with a vacuum.
- Cover the crack with mesh joint tape or joint mixture and paper tape, then a thin coating of the combined mixture that extends 2 inches on either side of the tape.
Allow time for drying. Apply a second coat of joint compound 6 to 7 inches on either side of the crack, feathered. Allow for overnight drying.
● Concrete Walls
An epoxy repair kit is required to repair a concrete wall. In the crack, the epoxy will form a watertight seal. Begin by partially filling the gap with 3-inch finish nails every 12 inches; these nails will be used to attach injection ports. Epoxy is divided into two parts, A and B, which must be mixed shortly before use.
With a putty knife, mix equal parts epoxy on a scrap piece of wood. Apply a little amount of mixed epoxy to each injection port tab, then use one port to cover each of the finish nails on the wall.
Apply a layer of mixed epoxy substance to the crack, extending 1 inch on both sides. Next, apply epoxy to the flanges of each injection port as well. Then, a paintbrush dipped in mineral spirits will be used to feather the epoxy around the edges.
Allow six to ten hours for curing. Next, inject liquid concrete into the ports using a caulk gun until the liquid flows out. Before repairing the next port, make sure it’s sealed in.
● Plaster Wall Patching
Repair minor plaster cracks with a joint mixture identical to how drywall cracks are treated. If the plaster is dragging away from the lath, you’ll need to use a two-step procedure that includes a conditioner spray heeded by adhesive to shore up the wall.
Start by drilling holes every three inches along the fissure length with a 3/16-inch masonry bit that will pierce the plaster but not the wood lath. Then, each hole should be sprayed with an adhesive conditioner.
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Allow the manufacturer’s recommended dwell time. At the wall’s lowest point, inject the adhesive into each hole. Using a wet sponge, wipe away any excess glue. Hook plaster rings with a drill to tighten the plaster taut against the wall. Allow curing according to the manufacturer’s advice. Clear the plaster rings from the mold. Apply a coat of the joint mixture to the holes and the original crack. Apply a second application of the joint variety after lightly sanding. When dried, the surface is smooth.
● Repairing Deep Cracks
If the fractures in the drywall or plaster are more than 1/4 inch, filling the fissure with a filler compound before taping with the joint compound will give you better results. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for mixing the mixture. Next, fill the crack with the same material as the existing wall. Finally, cover with tape and joint compound as described previously to achieve a smooth border.
Concrete walls, particularly those that support a basement or foundation, are load-bearing walls. Although small cracks can be repaired, significant fissures can indicate a lack of structural integrity. For example, a horizontal crack that runs the length of a wall and bulges means considerable damage. Therefore, an expert like HydroHelp911 should only repair this type of crack.
These minor fractures could be caused by normal settling or differential movement. Changing moisture levels surrounding or under your basement is the most common cause of differential motion, with inadequate drainage being the most common source of that moisture.
Major cracks with a sinking foundation are described as more than three-quarters of an inch wide. Finding these fractures would be concerning since it could suggest the presence of a substantially more severe structural issue that would be far more costly to address. When cracks become this bad, the best course of action is to call a professional expert like HydroHelp911!
HydroHelp911 will assist you in getting things under control before they get worse! Contact us today!
Why do Cracks Occur on Walls?
Here are a few common reasons: The materials that make up your wall (paint, plaster) compress and expand because of changes in humidity and temperature. This is generally a problem if the wall is in a room air-conditioned regularly or confronts a lot of the afternoon sun. Hairline cracks can form as a result of contraction and expansion.
Low-quality paint causes poor paint adhesion on your wall, resulting in cracks over time. Furthermore, applying different colors for each paint application can result in wall fissures.
There’s no avoiding it! Use a high-quality product and keep your paint uniform. It may sting a little right now, but it’s better than suffering afterward.
Patience is sometimes the best option. One of the most prevalent causes of gaps and cracks is not curing cement plaster before adding paint. So turn on some Netflix and unwind! It’ll be less expensive than purchasing new paint to repaint your walls. Painting an entire house is a lot of labor, and it’s easy to speed through it. However, mistakes such as skipping layers or not allowing prior layers to dry completely can detract from your total efforts.
Is Cracking in Concrete Normal?
While fractures are typical in freshly poured concrete, they usually dissolve as the work settles. When you’ve just paid for a new driveway, concrete slab, walkway, or garage floor, seeing minor cracks in the concrete is worrisome.
How can we Find if a Crack is Structural?
Jagged cracks that proceed diagonally or appear to be a set of stairs running up your wall could indicate structural instability and be more harmful than cracks that run up and down.
What Types of Wall Cracks are Dangerous?
The stair-step cracks are the most destructive of all the foundation defects. Fissures begin in a joint or at the wall’s rear, then taper down or ascend the wall. Differential settling drives them, as it does all diagonal cracks.
