As it turns out, it's fairly normal for settlement cracks to form in the drywall from time-to-time, for a variety of reasons. This is especially the case for new homes, which have yet to settle onto their foundations. If your house is newly built, you should even expect some settlement cracks to appear.
The size and location of wall cracks are key factors to consider. Large cracks wider than 5 millimeters are a cause for concern, especially if they are diagonal, horizontal or above a door frame. These cracks could indicate foundation movement, stress on structural supports or settling issues.
1 year to 50 years a house can settle a bit at any time. Cracks that go off at 45 degree angles from an opening or vertical are usually signs of minor settling, no big deal. Cracks that run horizontal to the floor, whether they be in concrete drywall or a window/door opening are the ones to keep an eye on.
Especially in new construction homes, some cracking from settling is normal, and to be expected. More serious settlement can cause larger cracks, but so long as the cracks remain hairline, they aren't a cause for concern.
In most cases, drywall cracks occur because of seasonal changes or normal settling of the house. However, if cracks appear in the drywall due to a structural problem, the underlying issue must be dealt with as soon as possible to prevent damage to your home.
Drywall cracks usually emerge due to your home's foundation being compromised either by its natural settlement, foundation swaying, fluctuations in humidity temperature levels based on local climate, and seismic activity, which all put an immense amount of concentrated stress on the drywall's materials.
Construction-related issues typically fall under the builder's responsibility, while cracks resulting from natural settlement or external factors often rest with the homeowner.
If they remain small, these should be no big deal. Settlement cracks are the result of the home settling onto its foundation. Typically, these cracks appear at the weakest points of a structure – namely, windows and doors.
Bowing walls are likely a sure sign of major foundation instability. If foundation walls bow noticeably, wall anchors should be installed to stabilize and straighten them. More extensive repairs to the foundation, crawl space, or basement may also be necessary.
Non-structural cracks are usually minor and do not pose a risk to the building's stability. These cracks are typically less than 1/8 inch wide and are often caused by concrete shrinkage during the curing process or minor settlement of the building over time.
The tendency for plastic settlement cracks to form may be reduced by adjusting the concrete mix, for example by avoiding gap-graded fine aggregate and reducing the water content, and by appropriate workmanship and control of vibration. Particular care will be required for tall elements.
If your foundation is settling into the soil beneath it, experts consider anything more than 1 inch for every 20 feet as too much.
Hairline cracks of less than one millimetre in width or slight cracks of between one and five millimetres are generally not a cause for concern. If you begin to notice these, they can generally be filled and painted over as they're a crack in the plaster but not in the wall itself.
When homeowners notice cracks, leaks, or settling in their home's foundation, quick action is essential. Foundation repair cost ranges from $2,010 to $7,717, with the national average at $4,714. Foundation settling that results in cracking can lead to significant structural issues.
Appearance: Thin, almost thread-like lines. Common Locations: Walls and ceilings. Meaning: Hairline cracks are typically a result of the natural settling of a new home. Cracks in walls and ceilings under ¼ inch are generally not a sign of serious structural issues.
The amount of settling generally depends on the composition of the underlying soil, but it's not abnormal to see up to a few inches of sinkage. However, if your house settles more than that, if it settles unevenly, or if it continues to settle over time, you may have cause for concern.
So, while small cracks might form because of uniform settlement, they're usually nothing to worry about. Differential settlement happens when different parts of a structure settle at different rates. Differential settlement puts a lot of stress on a foundation and is the leading cause of structural damage.
Hairline cracks are typically less than 1/8 inch wide and are often the result of the natural settling process as concrete cures. These cracks are usually cosmetic and don't pose a significant threat to your home's structure.
If your house is shifting everything will be slightly out of alignment, and this includes doors and windows. Walls that are pulling away from ceilings and floors. This happens because when a house is shifting it isn't moving in sync. This can cause the walls to separate from the ceiling and/or floor.
Foundation damage caused by shifting or settling earth or sagging floors caused by rotting floor joists are typically not covered by homeowners insurance. If the damage is caused by flooding or an earthquake, you'll typically require separate coverage.
Cracks that form through initial settlement then become ready-made movement joints. This is why a crack will continually reappear, no matter how many times it is filled.
Crack Width: Typically, wider cracks are indicative of more severe foundation issues. They may suggest notable movement in the foundation, potentially threatening the structural integrity of the building. Hairline cracks, while not immediately alarming, should also be monitored as they may widen over time.
The basics of crack repair are to remove all debris and excavate the crack down to firm material. A suitable, flexible crack filler or mortar mix can be used to fill the crack. Once dry, apply a new coat of paint to finish the repair.
Some signs that may indicate that a crack is structural in nature may be that the crack is ⅛” or larger, a crack is horizontal in direction, the crack has shifted forward, one side of a crack projects out further than the other side of the crack, a wall is bowing, and there may be stair step cracks in the mortar ...
Your buildings insurance policy will cover the cost of repairing damage to the structure of your home that occurs as the result of subsidence, including cracks. It won't normally cover the cost of preventing further subsidence and movement of your home though.