If you have noticed new cracks in your walls or ceilings since the furnace came on, you are not alone. Winnipeg's long, cold and very dry winters are hard on drywall, and certain kinds of cracks tend to show up at this time of year.
Most of them are cosmetic and fixable. Here is what causes them, which ones are worth a closer look, and how a proper repair keeps them from coming back.
Why drywall cracks in winter
Dry indoor air
Heating dries out indoor air, and the wood framing behind your drywall shrinks slightly as it loses moisture. That small movement is enough to stress taped seams and push screws and nails against the board.
Seasonal movement
Houses expand and contract as temperature and humidity swing between seasons. Joints that were tight in summer can open up by January.
Truss uplift
In some homes with roof trusses, the trusses lift slightly in winter because their top and bottom sections sit at very different temperatures and moisture levels. The result is a gap or crack where an interior wall meets the ceiling. It often closes again in spring.
Common winter drywall problems
Nail pops
Small round bumps or cracked circles where a nail or screw has pushed out against the surface of the board.
Cracked seams
Straight cracks along taped joints, often running up from the corners of doors and windows.
Corner cracks
Cracks along inside corners where two walls meet, or where a wall meets the ceiling.
Separated tape
Tape that bubbles or peels away from the joint, usually a sign it was not bedded properly in the first place.
When a crack is more than cosmetic
Most winter cracks are minor, but some deserve a closer look:
- cracks that keep getting wider
- doors or windows that start sticking at the same time new cracks appear
- stains, softness or bubbling, which point to moisture
- large diagonal cracks that come back quickly after a repair
Moisture problems need to be found and fixed before any drywall repair. For anything that looks structural, have it checked before patching over it.
How to repair winter drywall cracks properly
Painting over a crack or smearing filler into it rarely lasts, because the joint keeps moving. A lasting repair usually means:
- Re-securing popped fasteners with a new screw and setting them just below the surface
- Cutting out loose tape and opening up the crack
- Re-taping the joint and applying thin coats of compound, feathered out wide
- Sanding smooth so the repair blends into the wall
- Priming before painting so the patch does not show through the finish
Cosmetic repairs hold up best once the house has settled into the season, so late winter or spring is a good time for fixes that are not urgent.
Can you prevent winter cracks?
You cannot stop a house from moving, but keeping indoor humidity more stable helps. A furnace humidifier or a portable unit can reduce how much the framing shrinks. In very cold weather, keep humidity moderate so you do not get condensation on your windows.
Drywall repair in Winnipeg
Griffith Plaster handles drywall patching, taping and finishing for Winnipeg homes, along with plaster repair for older walls. We have been in business since 2017, we are licensed, bonded and insured, and owner Brandan Griffith is on most jobs. Learn more about our drywall repair services, or if your home has original plaster walls, see our plaster repair page. If you are repainting after repairs, we also offer painting.
Send a few photos of the cracks through our quote form or call (204) 806-9810.