Not Enough Ventilation In Attic Sheetrock Cracks
These cracks usually run either horizontal or vertical at the drywall seams.
Not enough ventilation in attic sheetrock cracks. So i ll start by saying something that might sound controversial but really isn t. This article describes the common causes of all types of cracks that appear in drywall or gypsum board or plasterboard walls ceilings in building interiors. This type of crack generally would be considered a red flag depending on width length and location. Another common place to see these cracks is where two pieces of drywall come together.
Homes with vaulted ceilings may develop these cracks in the higher areas as well. But in homes that do not have proper attic insulation or ventilation heat tends to migrate. Illustrations show where cracks are most likely to appear explain why and suggest both repair approaches to drywall cracks and how to prevent cracking in plasterboard or gypsum board. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool.
Certainly the attic should be investigated for condensation if you have insulation or ventilation issues up there you could be getting either wood movement or ice water loading on the drywall. This is particularly common in cathedral vaulted ceilings with low profile rafters or joists that do not provide enough ventilation space above the. Poor attic ventilation creating quite the crackup los angeles times. A vented attic where insulation is placed on an air sealed attic floor is one of the most underappreciated building assemblies that we have in the history of building science.
For instance in some places like las vegas the sun tends to set on the roof causing the attic to be warm. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. Hot air fills the attic and raises the temperature. Water leaking from a window or the roof or even a leaky attic water line can run down inside a wall s framing and saturate the drywall which then softens and deteriorates creating a crack.
Additionally drywall cracks are often found where two pieces of drywall are butted together. However if your attic has blocked soffit vents and is not well sealed from the rest of the house attic fans will suck cool conditioned air up out of the house and into the attic. It s like the drywall is ripped apart. Attic fan ventilation attic fans are intended to cool hot attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents soffit and gable and pushing hot air to the outside.
A crack a 16th of an inch or larger that runs at a diagonal angle through a sheet s of drywall requires a lot of force to create this crack. Attic ventilation in the summer. Drywall cracks in ceilings or walls. Generally heat rises and cool air falls.