Why Are There Cracks in My Drywall?

The short answer is that your foundation is probably settling/ sinking.

Underneath your home, there are many different types of soil, some are sandy, and some are clay soils. These two soil types behave very differently when they come in contact with moisture.

Sandy soils let water pass through them. They don’t change much when they get wet. However, clay soil will absorb moisture. 

When the clay dries, the clay shrinks, cracks and crumbles and has a smaller volume allowing your home above to sink or “settle”. 

You may not notice anything after a heavy rain, but after 10 years, or 15 the little changes can add up. If your home experienced a hurricane or strong natural force, that can greatly impact the soil beneath your home, just like a long drought. 

Trees, bushes and other plants near your foundation can absorb moisture under your home. Inadequate drainage around your house or watering too much around your foundation can soften the soil supporting your home.

The last major contributor to settlement is poorly compacted fill soil. It is fairly common for neighborhoods to be built on backfilled soil, soil moved from one location to another to level the ground. If this soil is not properly compacted, the weight of the home could cause settlement and sinking.

The reason we see cracks in the drywall is that part of the house is sinking, while the other parts are not. The cracks tend to appear near the corners of doors or windows. They can follow a drywall seam and they cannot be fixed with plaster or paint. The sinking can also cause windows and doors to be “sticky”.

Lowcountry Basement Systems can stabilize homes and other buildings, and in most cases, lift the home back into place. We have been serving this community for nearly 20 years and offer long-term solutions to customers.

If you'd like to meet with one of our trained licensed specialists for a home inspection, consultation, and written foundation repair quote, contact our company today! Each of our quotes comes completely free and at no cost or obligation.  

To learn more about foundation problems and repair, click here.