cracked walls - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Paragon Home Re · 07-13-2009, 08:05 PM

Two years ago, I built a sunroom addition on a house. The floor joists are above ground and supported by a ledger board attached to the house and a beam which is supported by 3 metal posts with helical plates drilled six feet into the ground. Every winter there appears a 1/4" vertical crack in the wall above the sliding patio doors running up to the ceiling. The crack closes in the summer.

I'm pretty sure the foundation is not moving so I am wondering if there is just some movement in the wall where the patio doors are that is causing the crack to open. Could it be expansion and contraction of the wall frame doing this? Its a shed style roof and the crack appears on the side wall above where the patio door is.

Any ideas on either a cause or a solution?

Darren@Partners · 07-14-2009, 12:08 AM

Does this home have a whole-house humidifier? Assuming this addition is heated/cooled with the rest of the house. Have seen these seasonal cracks before and 9 out 10 times the home is not equipped with a humidifier. Need to keep it set on about 25-28%.

Sir Mixalot · 07-14-2009, 10:11 PM

Is it a vertical crack at one of the corners of the slider? When hanging drywall, it is best not to have a joint in these areas.