Why is my Drywall Tape Peeling?

Quick and dirty drywall lesson: drywall is held together by mud, nails, and tape before it’s textured and painted. The tape mostly serves to act as a smooth surface between seams and let your texture go on flush and even. While this is somewhat common knowledge, some homeowners don’t know of drywall tape’s existence since it’s so well-hidden. But what if your drywall tape makes a surprise appearance through your paint?

Loose, peeling drywall tape is a fairly common issue and a fairly easy fix. But don’t pen an angry letter to your home builder just yet – it may not have been their fault! Here are three possible reasons why your drywall tape is peeling:

• Poor application technique. Peeling drywall tape is most common in newer homes, arising due to poor application. This can mean that your builders either put too much or too little compound on the joints before taping over it. Don’t be too concerned – your drywall tape doesn’t have a direct hand in your home’s structural stability. It’s still best to get it repaired ASAP, though.

• Rowdy kids or pets. Puppies, kittens, and children have one thing in common: they manage to destroy just about everything when left unsupervised. It’s a fact of life – whether your new puppy just chewed through your moulding or your little one is in a peeling and picking phase, your drywall might just get caught in the crosshairs.

• Humid conditions. Another thing that tends to be destructive is water, as you probably know from living in Central Florida. If there’s too much humidity in your home, your drywall tape may lose its adhesion and start to peel away from the sheetrock. If you see this happening throughout your home, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspection to make sure you don’t have a serious underlying moisture problem.

As we mentioned earlier, peeling drywall tape isn’t a cause for panic – it won’t cause your house to collapse. Still, it could be an indication of a greater issue lying beneath the surface, so it’s best to have it repaired as soon as possible. To repair the area, you’ll need to strip the texture, reapply the tape, and retexture the area. That’s a lot of work! Contact the Orlando drywall repair team at New Ceilings to get it done at 407-378-6040.