Brand new drywall crack in 8 year old house

Silly Burrito

Hello! My wife just told me to come look at something. When I followed, I looked up and saw the following underneath our cathedral ceiling:


Here is a little bit of a closeup of the top and bottom of the crack.



I have never seen this crack before tonight. Admittedly, I don't look there all the time, but I would've hoped that I would've seen this developing if it was a slow crack. I'm guessing it happened very recently.

Because we found out about this roughly an hour ago, I've been reading on this site and others about possible causes. It has been very hot in Louisiana this last month. I haven't noticed any other cracks in the house except for one. That crack was from tape (that's what the guy who built my house said when he came over for a different reason and looked at it) and has not moved.

Basically, I'd just like to know...how worried about this should I be? I obviously want to fix it, but my DIY skills are a bit lacking. Is there an easy fix to try, or with something like this, should I call the contractor and ask him to stop by and have a look? My house was built in 2003, and this is the first major crack that I've seen. I'm hoping it doesn't expand any further...

Thanks for your help!

Bud Cline

You better call your contractor again. That shouldn't be major fix but it also won't be a quick or easy fix for a DIY'er.

Let's see now. Louisiana...is your heating and air conditioning system located in your attic?

Silly Burrito

Yes. In fact, if you see the photo, you'll see the main vent next to this crack. Seeing this reminded me to change the filter too.

Ugh, I hope that's not it. I thought our house was built before all that started happening, but that link says that it started in 2001. I didn't realize that it went back that far.

loneframer

While that may well be Chinese drywall, I don't see how that has anything to do with a crack in the ceiling.

My guess is there has been movement due to temperature extremes and atmospheric conditions, such as humidity or lack thereof.

Depending on how the house is framed, movement of the roof trusses may also have been a factor.

If the metal fixtures in your house are corroding, or you smell rotten eggs, you may have a Chinese drywall problem.

__________________
It's not that it took him an hour to make 100 bucks, it's that it didn't take you 10 hours to save 100 bucks.

Silly Burrito

I haven't noticed any fixtures corroding, and obvious jokes aside, I can't say I've smelled any rotten egg odors. It has been unseasonably warm (even for Louisiana summer) for the last month or so. I'm just surprised by how fast that crack appeared.

Bud Cline

I was thinking the vibrations from the heat/cool units may have contributed. I know in that part of the country those units are usually placed in the attic. When I lived in Texas years ago, cracking of the ceiling drywall in the vicinity of the units wasn't unusual. If I remember correctly the units were sometimes hung from the roof rafters also.

Your contractor is the place to begin.

Silly Burrito

That makes sense, and it's really close to where the main A/C unit is. I already called and left a message, so I anticipate a call back relatively soon, considering that it's a holiday weekend. Now I just have to hope that it's not an expensive fix.

oh'mike

The fix will (or should) involve cutting out the bad section and re drywalling that place---

Depending on the situation,the drywaller might 'float' the board over the parts that are moving(no screws) to prevent the moving stud from tearing the drywall again.

Fix is cheap---paint ,however is another matter.

__________________
New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

Silly Burrito

That doesn't sound as bad as I was thinking (I have visions of knocking out entire sections of the wood or the a/c brace to fix it). Now I just have to remember what shade of green we used eight years ago (or just bring a lot of green swatches home)! I wonder if contractors keep notes on jobs from that far ago....(although if they're cutting a piece out, I could always try to match that. Hmm..)

oh'mike

Some times parts just move---Good luck on the paint. Your wife just might want a nice new color!

__________________
New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

Silly Burrito

"And while we're at it, we could use a new couch and recliner..."

Bud Cline

You can take a small piece of the old painted drywall (after it is removed) to any paint store and they can scan the color and match it perfectly. The miracles of modern science.

Silly Burrito

Now I just need the automatic painting Roomba and I'll be set!

What? There is no such thing?? Come on science!!!

Bud Cline

You can't find a neighborhood dumb teenager that needs a few bucks?

Silly Burrito

Well, there is one guy that I know, but he always makes the job sound so much fun that I end up doing the work myself. Dangit, Tom....