Ceiling Drywall Cracks
Ceiling Drywall Cracks
(OP)
I have a client that is experiencing truss uplift at a number of interior walls. Prior to seeing the condition the wall had been rigidly clipped (rather than a slip connection) to the trusses to "prevent" the movement between the trusses and wall.
After the clips had been installed the owner noticed long cracks in his ceiling running perpendicular to the trusses. The worst crack occurs at the center of the building. This sure sounds like truss uplift to me but the truss supplier feels it is a sepparate condition. I haven't been able to find any cases of truss uplift causing cracks in the middle of the ceiling, only at interior walls. Also could rigidly attaching the wall to the trusses cause the long ceiling cracks. Has anyone else ran into a similar condition?
After the clips had been installed the owner noticed long cracks in his ceiling running perpendicular to the trusses. The worst crack occurs at the center of the building. This sure sounds like truss uplift to me but the truss supplier feels it is a sepparate condition. I haven't been able to find any cases of truss uplift causing cracks in the middle of the ceiling, only at interior walls. Also could rigidly attaching the wall to the trusses cause the long ceiling cracks. Has anyone else ran into a similar condition?





RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
Now, with the clips, they have to span the full length, for which they were designed, but they may have developed a deflection memory with time, due to the original support condition, that could, at least in part, be the reason for the cracks.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
Usually when cracks in drywall occur, unless there has been a significant wind event,it can be attributed to drying shrinkage of the materials, including the gypsum materials and the trusses.
Agree with Mike on the support conditions...that can screw things up.
RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
Also I have noticed that as the bottom chord arches in large wide open ceilings, cracks in the drywall perpendicular to the truss direction can develop especially if a long seem in the drywall happens to line up near the splice plate on the bottom chord.
When building homes we tried to avoid this where ever possible. I have seen no documentation on this other...just my own observation as I don't believe gang nail plates keep the splices firmly together under movement.
RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
http://www.accurateinspection.com/Truss_uplift.htm
RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
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RE: Ceiling Drywall Cracks
Have this exact same condition in the second story of my house in Florida, The drywall was all replaced right before I moved in, and about 4-5 years later it began to crack along the joint tape at the interior wall-ceiling joint.
I also see this type of cracking constantly at wall-ceiling joints at interior and exterior walls while doing residential inspections, but usually it is pretty minor.
Another solution since its non-structural is crown molding that hides it!