Hi,
Older house, was built in the 60s I think, and lately I'm noticing something
like cracks in the ceiling in most of the rooms, but it's more of what looks
like a seam about to show. In all but one room, it hasn't come through the
paint yet, if that makes sense. In one room, it's an actual "crack" looks
like a sidewalk crack, very thin though, and has cracked the paint. Long
one. There are also some cracks near the door frames on the walls. I live in
Texas and have heard people say houses settle here a lot. Pier and beam
foundation, small house, just five rooms.

I cannot afford to move, fixed income, and it's just me, but I can still
climb a ladder if I'm careful. Will someone please tell me how to fix it? If
its serious? I don't have anyone I can call as far as family, and I rely on
this newsgroup a lot for information about this house and another one for my
garden.
Thank you all so much,
lucy

"lucy" wrote:

Older house, was built in the 60s I think, and lately I'm noticing something
like cracks in the ceiling in most of the rooms, but it's more of what looks
like a seam about to show. In all but one room, it hasn't come through the
paint yet, if that makes sense. In one room, it's an actual "crack" looks
like a sidewalk crack, very thin though, and has cracked the paint. Long
one. There are also some cracks near the door frames on the walls. I live in
Texas and have heard people say houses settle here a lot. Pier and beam
foundation, small house, just five rooms.

I cannot afford to move, fixed income, and it's just me, but I can still
climb a ladder if I'm careful. Will someone please tell me how to fix it?

You can usually tell quite easily if it is a seam crack. Those will be in the
corner or run in a straight line. The easiest way to fix those is to use a
paintable acrylic caulk to fill the crack, then paint over with a latex paint
that matches the existing paint.

If the seam tape has lifted, it needs to be removed (as much as has lifted), and
replaced, mudding as required. I tend to think the fiberglass mesh tape works
well for repairs as it is a bit stronger, but paper would also work.

Using drywall patch for seam cracks is usually not a good idea as the crack will
likely reappear after a short time.

Note that if the surface paint has been on for a few years it most likely will
not match fresh paint. If that's a problem, you need to paint the entire surface
to a corner or other natural break in sight line.

If its serious?

These types of cracks are not serious as long as the gap is relatively small -
say a pencil lead width or less. If the crack is larger or runs in multiple
directions, you probably should have a trusted builder or inspector take a look.

I don't have anyone I can call as far as family, and I rely on this newsgroup a lot for information about this house

Now that's dangerous...

Clark,
Thank you very much! I will get the fiberglass tape and some "mud" but I'm
not sure what you mean by that. Would they know at Lowe's what I mean by
that or does it have another name?
You seem very knowledgeable about this, so if you wouldn't mind, will you
give me some pointers on how to do this? Like how do I remove old seam tape?
Just start scraping that area?
Okay, then I put up the fiberglass mesh tape on the seam, then put the mud
stuff on there? Do I sand it when it dries?
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help,
lucille

"Clark W. Griswold, Jr." 73115 dot 1041 at compuserve dot com wrote in
message ...
"lucy" wrote:

Older house, was built in the 60s I think, and lately I'm noticing
something
like cracks in the ceiling in most of the rooms, but it's more of what
looks
like a seam about to show. In all but one room, it hasn't come through
the
paint yet, if that makes sense. In one room, it's an actual "crack" looks
like a sidewalk crack, very thin though, and has cracked the paint. Long
one. There are also some cracks near the door frames on the walls. I live
in
Texas and have heard people say houses settle here a lot. Pier and beam
foundation, small house, just five rooms.

I cannot afford to move, fixed income, and it's just me, but I can still
climb a ladder if I'm careful. Will someone please tell me how to fix it?

You can usually tell quite easily if it is a seam crack. Those will be in
the
corner or run in a straight line. The easiest way to fix those is to use a
paintable acrylic caulk to fill the crack, then paint over with a latex
paint
that matches the existing paint.

If the seam tape has lifted, it needs to be removed (as much as has
lifted), and
replaced, mudding as required. I tend to think the fiberglass mesh tape
works
well for repairs as it is a bit stronger, but paper would also work.

Using drywall patch for seam cracks is usually not a good idea as the
crack will
likely reappear after a short time.

Note that if the surface paint has been on for a few years it most likely
will
not match fresh paint. If that's a problem, you need to paint the entire
surface
to a corner or other natural break in sight line.

If its serious?

These types of cracks are not serious as long as the gap is relatively
small -
say a pencil lead width or less. If the crack is larger or runs in
multiple
directions, you probably should have a trusted builder or inspector take a
look.

I don't have anyone I can call as far as family, and I rely on this
newsgroup a lot for information about this house

Now that's dangerous...

"lucy" wrote:

Thank you very much! I will get the fiberglass tape and some "mud" but I'm
not sure what you mean by that. Would they know at Lowe's what I mean by
that or does it have another name?

The people at Lowes will definitely know what products you need, assuming you
find the paint department. You will want drywall tape, drywall compound ("mud")
and a couple of spatulas of varying widths. They also occasionally run clinics
on how to make repairs.

You seem very knowledgeable about this, so if you wouldn't mind, will you
give me some pointers on how to do this? Like how do I remove old seam tape?
Just start scraping that area?

I've done it more than once, but don't claim to be an expert by any means. Can
tell you what worked for me: Remove the old seam tape with a utility knife. Cut
a line across the tape at either end a couple of inches into the part that
hasn't lifted. Make sure you also remove any chips or other loose bits of paint,
compound or tape.

By the way - if the tape is lifting, you may have a water leak problem. Properly
applied tape is embedded in a thin layer of drywall compound, making it
extremely unlikely that it would lift unless exposed to water. You must get the
leak fixed before you repair the drywall.

Okay, then I put up the fiberglass mesh tape on the seam, then put the mud
stuff on there?

Paper tape requires that you spread a think layer of drywall compound, slightly
wider than the tape for the length of the tape, then place the tape in the
compound and use the spatula blade to press the tape into the compound. The
fiberglass stuff is sticky on one side, so you can just place it on the seam and
spread the compound on top.

Do I sand it when it dries?

The general technique is to wait until the compound drys, knock down any large
ridges with sandpaper, then feather a layer on top that is slightly wider. Final
sanding may be required if you have smooth walls. Modern builders tend to use
textured walls to avoid the sanding requirement.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help,

Good luck.

Clark,
Thank you SO very much. Its the ceiling not the wall, and this house was
built in the 60s, so I'm hoping it's just age.
Thank you so very very much
lucille

"Clark W. Griswold, Jr." 73115 dot 1041 at compuserve dot com wrote in
message ...
"lucy" wrote:

Thank you very much! I will get the fiberglass tape and some "mud" but
I'm
not sure what you mean by that. Would they know at Lowe's what I mean by
that or does it have another name?

The people at Lowes will definitely know what products you need, assuming
you
find the paint department. You will want drywall tape, drywall compound
("mud")
and a couple of spatulas of varying widths. They also occasionally run
clinics
on how to make repairs.

You seem very knowledgeable about this, so if you wouldn't mind, will you
give me some pointers on how to do this? Like how do I remove old seam
tape?
Just start scraping that area?

I've done it more than once, but don't claim to be an expert by any means.
Can
tell you what worked for me: Remove the old seam tape with a utility
knife. Cut
a line across the tape at either end a couple of inches into the part that
hasn't lifted. Make sure you also remove any chips or other loose bits of
paint,
compound or tape.

By the way - if the tape is lifting, you may have a water leak problem.
Properly
applied tape is embedded in a thin layer of drywall compound, making it
extremely unlikely that it would lift unless exposed to water. You must
get the
leak fixed before you repair the drywall.

Okay, then I put up the fiberglass mesh tape on the seam, then put the
mud
stuff on there?

Paper tape requires that you spread a think layer of drywall compound,
slightly
wider than the tape for the length of the tape, then place the tape in the
compound and use the spatula blade to press the tape into the compound.
The
fiberglass stuff is sticky on one side, so you can just place it on the
seam and
spread the compound on top.

Do I sand it when it dries?

The general technique is to wait until the compound drys, knock down any
large
ridges with sandpaper, then feather a layer on top that is slightly wider.
Final
sanding may be required if you have smooth walls. Modern builders tend to
use
textured walls to avoid the sanding requirement.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help,

Good luck.