If you live in Dallas-Fort Worth, you have probably seen it: a thin crack running up from the corner of a door frame, or a line across the ceiling that was not there last year. You are not alone. Drywall cracks are one of the most common calls we get in Arlington, Fort Worth and across the Metroplex.
Here is why it happens, when to worry and how to fix it so it stays fixed.
Why DFW Walls Crack
Most of North Texas sits on expansive clay soil. When it rains, the clay soaks up water and swells. During long, dry summers, it shrinks and pulls away from the foundation. That constant up-and-down movement shifts your foundation a little at a time.
Your house moves with it. And the weakest spots in your walls, the corners of doors and windows, are where cracks show up first.
Other common causes include:
- Normal settling in a newer home during its first few years
- Drywall tape that was not bedded well when the house was built
- Big temperature swings in rooms over the garage or near the attic
- Water from a roof or plumbing leak softening the drywall
Which Cracks Are Normal?
Most hairline cracks are cosmetic. These are usually nothing to worry about:
- Thin cracks less than 1/8 inch wide
- Cracks at the corners of doors and windows
- Small cracks along the seam where the wall meets the ceiling
- Nail or screw pops that look like small round bumps
When to Call a Foundation Pro First
Some signs point to bigger foundation movement. If you see these, have a foundation company look before you repair the drywall:
- Cracks wider than 1/4 inch, or cracks that keep growing
- Stair-step cracks in your brick outside
- Doors that stick or will not latch
- Gaps between the wall and the ceiling or floor
- Cracks in tile floors
We are painters and drywall repair pros, not foundation experts. If we see these signs during an estimate, we will tell you so you can call the right company first.
Why Most Crack Repairs Fail
The most common DIY fix is to smear some spackle over the crack and paint it. It looks fine for a few months, and then the crack comes right back. That happens because the joint is still moving and nothing is holding it together.
How We Fix Cracks So They Stay Fixed
Here is the process we use for drywall repair:
- Open the crack. We cut out loose tape and widen the crack slightly so new material can grip.
- Re-tape the joint. We bed fiberglass mesh or paper tape across the crack to hold it together.
- Mud in coats. We apply two or three thin coats of joint compound, letting each one dry, and feather the edges wide so there is no bump.
- Sand smooth. We sand until the patch blends into the wall.
- Match the texture. Most DFW homes have orange peel or knockdown texture. We spray and knock it down to match, so the patch does not show when light hits the wall.
- Prime and paint. We prime the repair and paint it to blend in. Often we repaint the full wall corner to corner for a perfect match.
For cracks that keep coming back in the same spot, we may use a flexible crack-bridging product that can stretch a little as the house moves.
Bundle It With Paint
Cracks usually show up in more than one room. Many customers have us fix every crack in the house, then follow up with fresh interior painting. It is the best way to get walls that look brand new.
If your cracks came from a leak instead of movement, see our water-damage repair service. Those repairs need stain-blocking primer so the water ring does not bleed back through.
Get Your Walls Looking New Again
Ryd Construction repairs drywall and repaints homes across Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Irving. Call (817) 555-0148 or request a free estimate, and we will look at every crack and give you a clear, written price.