Drywall Cracks

[Nancy]

I have a 2005 16x80, single-wide mobile home that was purchased and delivered 1 year ago. It has finished drywall throughout. Upon delivery, it had several drywall cracks throughout the home, mostly around the perimeter of the home (at doors and windows), but some have ocurred on center walls this past year. All cracks were repaired by the dealer, but re-cracked shorty after. This has happened four times! The manufacturer refuses to make any repairs unless they deem it to be a structural problem causing the cracks. They did send a contractor from the factory, and he stripped down four layers of mud and tape in one spot and repaired the break again. This spot cracked four weeks later. The factory is still refusing to make any repairs and the dealer has given up, which leaves me (the buyer)with the problem. Do you have any ideas of what may be causing these areas to keep cracking? Thanks

[rmurray]

Many things can be causing these cracks...Home settling....foundation settling, temperature change and humidity change are 2 that make drywall problems show up more this time of the year...

[Nancy]

I have only had 3-4 new, hairline cracks since the home was placed on a 15-20 year old foundation (which is still in great shape, no cracks). The cracks that I'm having problems with are the ones that occured during transit. Shortly after they are repaired, they re-crack. I'm starting to wonder if maybe the home is not level and could be causing the problem. Some of the cracks are large. At one corner of the home, the crack runs from the ceiling to the floor, and at the opposite end of the home (opposite corner), another crack runs form ceiling to floor. I was told that if a home is not level that one end of the home tends to pull up on the other. Isn't is true, too, that if a home is level, there should only be minimal settling? The dealer also repaired screw pops that occurred in just about every stud in the home, the whole length of the studs. Cracks are occurring on interior walls above doors, and it's obvious that the doors are out of alignment. Also, you say that temperature and humidity play a role in drywall cracking. If this is the case, will it always be a problem? I live in upstate NY. Thanks.

[David Oxhandler]

It sound like your home is out of square and needs to be releveled. You should NOT try to level your home by yourself. The operations involved in jacking and raising the home can be very dangerous and should be attempted only by experienced individuals.

the Releveling Kit from Aberdeen Repair includes complete step-by-step instructions and a waterline level. Use these instructions and the enclosed waterline level to determine whether or not your home is out of level. You will also use this information to become a better-informed consumer and give yourself the upper hand when it comes to hiring a contractor to do the job, or requesting home warranty service.

The detailed instructions will show you how to do the following: learn the causes of why your home becomes unlevel learn how to set-up, calibrate and read a waterline level determine where your home is unlevel and by how much learn what to watch-out for before, during and after releveling your home learn proper jack placement learn how your contractor should safely jack-up your home

Get more details Here

[rmurray]

"Also, you say that temperature and humidity play a role in drywall cracking. If this is the case, will it always be a problem?"

I really do not know...but I had a persistant drywall crack in the last home I owned...It was only apparent in the winter..lower temps and humitiy....I was in Florida then..It was still there when I sold the home 17 years after first seeing it...I would question just how level an old foundation would be....A professional sheetrock person might be what you really need for repairs and advice...Have you called one???

[Eugene]

Why would you put a home on a foundation that is 15 years old? I would bet that is your problem!

[CS]

Does slamming a door very hard cause cracks in the drywall?

[rmurray]

It should NOT.......

[modern]

I have a client who purchased a pre-owned double wide. They placed the home themselves on a full slab. The floor squeaks in spots, the marriage line and areas down the walls have cracks along with over some door jams. Is this a cause of not being level? How can I find information on how much it would cost to repair these items?

[wizardstouchrepair]

it is a problem we hear alot of youer home needs releveled note donot attempt youer self