I am finishing a renovation in the family room – new windows with custom trim, new doors and custom trim, hardwood floors, cabinets, etc. I have a crack in the ceiling drywall (smooth, not popcorn finish) that extends from wall to wall. During the renovation, I re-taped and mudded the crack but the repair has failed twice in two years with the change in season. It opens to about 1/4 inch in winter and closes to about 1/16 in summer. I expect this is related to the substantial swings in humidity we encounter in coastal <!—-> <!—-><!—->South Carolina <!—-><!—-> but I am not certain. Is there a way to patch this drywall joint with a “flexible” repair? Simple taping and re-mudding does not seem to work.
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Hi Rickaround, and welcome to BT =)
I've seen this happen with plaster and metal lath, and it's probably the same mystery causing it. I haven't found a solution, usually just tell them sorry, but it's going to come back again and again. I also don't know what causes it.
One idea I've never tried but might not look too horrible.. Get a piece of plastic T-shaped track, with the stem of the T inserted into the crack and glued with caulk on one side. The other side will move but you won't see the crack. Of course, painting will be an issue, needing touched up when the ceiling contracts and reveals the joint a little.
I bet somebody here has a real solution. I'll be watching this one.
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools - BuildersTools.net
See my work - TedsCarpentry.com
Edited 3/2/2009 7:03 pm by Ted W.
Edited 3/2/2009 7:04 pm by Ted W.