Issues with your home’s drywall can happen at any time, but they are especially common in the spring. The frequent temperature fluctuations that occur as we transition from winter to spring cause drywall, wall studs, rafters, and other building materials to continually expand and contract, which can lead to drywall damage. In this blog, we’ll look at the most common drywall issues that homeowners can face and when to call for professional drywall repair in Colorado Springs, CO to make sure that they’re handled properly.
Cracks
It’s common for drywall to crack at the corners of window and door frames or in the corners where two walls or a wall and ceiling meet. Cracking along the corner of a wall and ceiling normally happens because the wall sheets slowly sag over time. If the crack is small, you can usually hide it by applying a small bead of caulk along the joint. Cracks near window and door frames or where walls meet are normally a result of the house settling. You can sometimes hide a crack in a corner by using caulk, but diagonal cracks that extend from the corners of window and door frames are more difficult to deal with and will typically get much bigger over time. The best way to prevent this is to have a professional prep the crack and then to tape, mud, and refinish the drywall.
Nail/Screw Pops
Drywall sheets are affixed to walls and ceilings using screws (or sometimes nails in older homes). The screws or nails are driven just slightly below the surface and then covered with drywall mud to hide the holes. Improper installation, the building settling, or the studs/rafters warping can cause some of the screws or nails to slightly pop out to where you can see a slight bulge or where the head of the screw/nail is fully visible.
Screw pops tend to be easier to deal with, but you still need to remove the old screw and then add two new screws just above and below the original one. From there, the holes then just need to be filled in with drywall mud or putty. Nail pops are tougher to fix due to the risk of damaging the drywall when trying to remove the loose screw. The biggest concern is if there are multiple screw/nail pops on a drywall ceiling since this indicates that one or more of the sheets isn’t properly secured and could potentially fall. In this situation, the safest option is to enlist a professional to either refasten or replace the sheets.
Visible or Sagging Joints
When installing drywall, fiberglass tape and mud are always used on all the joints so that they’re hidden once the wall or ceiling is finished. If you can see the tape or the joint itself is visible, it usually just means that the installers didn’t use enough mud. This problem is relatively easy to fix, but it’s usually not something you want to attempt on your own unless you have experience with drywall finishing. Without the proper knowledge and skills, it can be extremely difficult to get a smooth finish that blends with the rest of the drywall. This is especially the case if the wall or ceiling is textured.
A much bigger concern is if there’s a sagging joint on the ceiling. This commonly happens when 1/2-inch drywall is used on a ceiling that’s supported by the roof trusses. Nowadays, builders typically use 5/8-inch drywall on these ceilings because it’s strong enough to span the 24-inch space between each truss without sagging. In this situation, the only solutions are to either replace all the drywall on the ceiling or to add wooden spacers between the trusses. Sagging can also be a sign of moisture issues, which is why it’s something that you should always call a professional to check.
Bowing or Warping
Another common issue you can encounter, especially in an older house, is the drywall on part of a wall warping or bowing outward. This usually happens because of moisture issues within the wall or as a result of one or more of the studs warping or shrinking. Either of these issues should always be handled by a professional because the only way to fix them is to remove and replace the drywall. Moisture weakens drywall and will eventually lead to it falling apart. If all the studs on the wall are no longer in line, it’s necessary to shim them out so the drywall can sit level or sometimes replace some of the studs if they’re extremely warped.
Trusted Home Improvement Services in Colorado Springs
Build Craft LLC is an employee-owned company that’s dedicated to helping Colorado Springs residents tackle all of their home improvement needs. Our expert craftsmen have decades of experience in drywall repair and handyman services and are focused on delivering quality results every single time. To get help overcoming any drywall issues in your home, contact us today.
