Are Ceiling Cracks a Sign of a Bigger Problem? How to Tell

Most ceiling cracks are cosmetic. Thin, straight cracks along drywall seams are usually caused by normal settling, temperature changes or roof trusses moving. A crack is worth a closer look when the ceiling around it sags, the crack keeps getting wider, it's stained, or it runs across the ceiling and down a wall.

Cracks that are usually cosmetic

• Hairline cracks along seams. Drywall seams are the weakest point of a ceiling, so settling and seasonal movement show up there first.
• Cracks where the ceiling meets the wall. These often open and close over the year as trusses flex with attic heat. See why drywall corners crack.
• Fine spiderweb cracks in texture or paint. These are usually in the surface layer, from thick texture, heavy paint or age, not the drywall itself.

Cracks worth a closer look

• A crack with a sag or a dip. Sagging means the drywall has pulled away from the framing, often because of water or weight above it.
• A stained crack. Brown or yellow staining means water is getting in from a roof, plumbing or an AC line. Fix the leak first.
• A crack that keeps growing. Mark the ends with a pencil and the date. If it grows past your marks over a few weeks, have it looked at.
• A crack that continues down a wall, especially with doors or windows that have started to stick. That can point to foundation movement, which a structural engineer can assess.

For more on what different cracks mean, see types of drywall cracks and their causes.

How ceiling cracks are repaired

Loose drywall is screwed back to the framing, the crack is opened up and taped, and the seam is finished with thin coats of compound. Then the ceiling is textured to match and painted, so the repair disappears. Painting or caulking over a crack without taping it usually lets the crack come right back.

Ceiling crack repair in Orlando

New Ceilings repairs ceiling cracks, sagging drywall and water-stained ceilings across Orlando and Central Florida, and matches the texture and paint. Every job starts with a free written quote. See drywall and ceiling repair.