Hairline cracks in my ceiling

[Color Me Badd Fan]

A rectangular portion of my ceiling in the main room is higher than the rest of my ceiling. I have no idea what they call this inset portion of the ceiling which is higher (I'll just call it the Rectangle), so you'll have to excuse me.

At two of the corners of the Rectangle, outside of the inset (i.e. the lower ceiling elevation), I have a hairline crack that runs about 2.5 to 3 feet. I had the house in the Summer-Fall 2008 and I think it's probably just settlement of the roof trusses above and the cracks don't seem to be getting bigger.

I've heard that I can get a type of caulk to fill the cracks (my ceilings are white). If so, is it indeed a special kind of caulk?

[kccougar]

I don't think you'd even need to caulk it. These are sheet rock ceilings, right? I'd just get some mud/spackle and cover the cracks, then texture to match your ceiling and paint.

[creekster]

If it is really a hairline crack you could probabyl just paint it. Or do what KC says for the best fix.

or just leave it.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I don't think you'd even need to caulk it. These are sheet rock ceilings, right? I'd just get some mud/spackle and cover the cracks, then texture to match your ceiling and paint.

I don't think texturing the ceiling is necessary. These are hairline cracks, but I also don't think simply painting them over would do the job. I could surgically put some spackle in the crack and then just apply some paint, but it seems like some caulk with a tiny nozzle on the tube/cylinder would do the trick better.

[Donuthole]

A rectangular portion of my ceiling in the main room is higher than the rest of my ceiling. I have no idea what they call this inset portion of the ceiling which is higher (I'll just call it the Rectangle), so you'll have to excuse me.

At two of the corners of the Rectangle, outside of the inset (i.e. the lower ceiling elevation), I have a hairline crack that runs about 2.5 to 3 feet. I had the house in the Summer-Fall 2008 and I think it's probably just settlement of the roof trusses above and the cracks don't seem to be getting bigger.

I've heard that I can get a type of caulk to fill the cracks (my ceilings are white). If so, is it indeed a special kind of caulk?

This happened in a couple places in my house (built in late 2007). I took some paint spackle and put it in a pastry piping bag with the finest tip, then applied it over the crack. A little thumb work and some touch-up paint, and it's as good as new.

If they are just now appearing, however, I'd probably wait 3-6 months before doing it, so you don't have to do it twice.

[creekster]

I don't think texturing the ceiling is necessary. These are hairline cracks, but I also don't think simply painting them over would do the job. I could surgically put some spackle in the crack and then just apply some paint, but it seems like some caulk with a tiny nozzle on the tube/cylinder would do the trick better.

If it is an expansion/contraction/settlign issue, then get some painters caulk, cut the tip to be small, fill it in, sponge it off and paint over it to match. VOila. Cailk is better on a joint that might move a little. DH's advice to wait a while is good, however.

I had this problem in an old house and every time we had an EQ, even small ones, the cracks would show up again until I used caulk.

[Art Vandelay]

You could try and get a Weddle to cover it, but I hear that doesn't always work.

[pellegrino]

I believe your "rectangle" is a tray ceiling. If it looks something like this then it is.


The suggested fixes are all correct, I think the creek's suggestion of leaving it may be the best.

[kccougar]

You could try and get a Weddle to cover it, but I hear that doesn't always work.

If you had your own greatest hits thread, I'd put this one in it.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I believe your "rectangle" is a tray ceiling. If it looks something like this then it is.


The suggested fixes are all correct, I think the creek's suggestion of leaving it may be the best.

Yes, you're right. I had a helluva time describing it.

[Donuthole]

I believe your "rectangle" is a tray ceiling. If it looks something like this then it is.


The suggested fixes are all correct, I think the creek's suggestion of leaving it may be the best.

Architecturally known as a coffered ceiling.

[creekster]

Architecturally known as a coffered ceiling.

I always thought of it as a "way to run duct work and conduit" ceiling. But maybe not.

[kccougar]

I always thought of it as a "way to run duct work and conduit" ceiling. But maybe not.

That's what it is in my house. We wanted to get rid of the dropped part of the ceiling when I remodeled our kitchen, but I decided rerouting HVAC ducts was more than I wanted to tackle.

[New Mexican Disaster]

I read that as "Harline cracks in my celing." I wondered if Johnny put on a few pounds, and if he was still open.

[pellegrino]

Architecturally known as a coffered ceiling.

I've always viewed a coffered ceiling as a series of boxes that make up a pattern in the ceiling, whereas one covering the whole ceiling would be a tray ceiling.

google coffered ceiling and see what images you get.