Why Are My Walls Cracking?

Cracks in walls in a home are a fairly common occurrence but nonetheless quite distressing. In many cases, they’re harmless and simply the result of the home settling. Other times, however, moisture intrusion may be the answer to why are my walls cracking, and in that scenario, it’s important to correct the problem as soon as possible as it will lead to much more serious and expensive issues.

Reasons Your Walls May Be Cracking

• Your House Is Settling

Wall cracking is particularly prevalent in new homes due to the new lumber, which has a high level of moisture. The recommendation is to wait a year after the home is built and then have the joints retaped and the walls repainted. Older homes can settle too. You’ll often find these cracks above doors and above and below windows. It’s all right to fill those in and repaint them right away.

Note that improper installation is a possibility as well. If your home is newly built and the cracking is substantial and pervasive, the problem may not be due to the green lumber but rather poor installation techniques. If you suspect this may be the case, schedule an independent inspector to assess the damage and provide you with a professional answer to why are my walls cracking.

• Foundation Issues May Be the Cause

Wall cracks can also indicate a structural issue and often problems with the foundation in particular. Cracks due to settling tend to be horizontal and neat whereas structural cracking often results in fractures that are large, jagged, and/or diagonal. If you have cracks like this, it’s most likely due to a problem with the foundation, and it’s important to have a foundation expert out to your home as soon as possible to inspect it and provide any foundation repair services.

• Excess Moisture Can Result in Cracks

Moisture intrusion may also be the answer to why are my walls cracking, and this can be due to issues with your foundation but other problems as well, such as compromised siding. Discoloration around the edges of the crack is often the most common indication that you have a leak where water is running down the framing of the wall and saturating the drywall.

• What to Do When Walls Crack

Contact a local contractor that specializes in waterproofing and structural repair. That expert can inspect your foundation, the cracks in the walls, and the landscape and other aspects of your home if necessary and provide you an assessment along with a quote for any repairs if necessary.

Contact AWS in the Delaware Valley

If you own a home in Southeast Pennsylvania, Central New Jersey, or Northern Delaware, AWS is the name to trust. Our company has extensive experience diagnosing cracked walls and carrying out remediation as needed. Call us today at 1-610-241-7009 or contact us online to schedule an appointment or with any additional questions about “why are my walls cracking”.