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Severna Park, Maryland
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Seattle, WA
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drywall crack and bow
[#2] Posted: 07/09/2009 - 6:35:37 PM |  |  |
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I would guess that the fireplace footing has settled (is settling) more (or maybe less) than the house foundation and framing and the drywall is somehow trapped between the two.
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Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
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Little Rock, AR
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 drywall crack and bow
[#3] Posted: 07/09/2009 - 7:21:58 PM | | |
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While I can't tell much from the photo of the FP facing, (especially with the barrel distortion -- my regular camera does that also) I can say that around here, houses of roughly early 1950's-1970 or so are usually the best combination of quality materials and workmanship that you can count on for production housing. Differential settlement in the fireplace assembly may be a possibility...but I don't find it really likely based on my experience. Keep in mind that I am half a country away with different soil conditions.
Is it possible that water intrusion thru the chimney over the years has caused some deterioration of the mortar bond in the brick behind the facing, allowing some slump? Or that water has caused some wood framing behind the drywall to swell as it absorbed moisture?
I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that settlement of the footing is causing a bow in the front of the fireplace. It seems to me that if that was the cause you would likely see some tearing of the drywall higher above the fireplace. It appears to be a (roughly) centrally located fireplace. Did you see a corresponding movement on the back side of the fireplace?
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Kevin
"Politicians are interested in people. Not that it is always a virtue; fleas are interested in dogs." P.J. O'Rourke
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Severna Park, Maryland
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drywall crack and bow
[#4] Posted: 07/09/2009 - 7:54:12 PM | | |
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No movement in the room that butts to the back side of the fireplace. No tearing or distortion of drywall at the ceiling itself, or the ceiling wall junction.
When I pushed in on the drywall, it flexed back in. So, there is nothing currently forcing it out such as a bowed stud or chimney masonry component.
It's like it was squeezed from above and below until it popped from its fasteners and bowed out.
No water penetrations signs in the attic.
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John Dirks Jr - Arundel Home Inspection LLC - MD license: 29827
Maryland Home Inspectors - Maryland Home Inspection - Maryland Radon Testing - Baltimore County Rental Inspection
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Walpole, MA
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drywall crack and bow
[#5] Posted: 07/10/2009 - 02:23:54 AM | | |
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Fireplace opening header shrinkage?
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Rochester, New York
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Severna Park, Maryland
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drywall crack and bow
[#7] Posted: 07/10/2009 - 06:58:09 AM | | |
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It is drywall, not plaster. Wouldn't plaster have had some kind of crumbling associated along the crack? This was a clean crack. The walls are hollow sounding when you knock on them, not the more solid sound you get with plaster.
The crack is in the wall just above the fireplace mantel. It was bowed way out, like two inches at the point of the crack.
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John Dirks Jr - Arundel Home Inspection LLC - MD license: 29827
Maryland Home Inspectors - Maryland Home Inspection - Maryland Radon Testing - Baltimore County Rental Inspection
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Rochester, New York
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drywall crack and bow
[#8] Posted: 07/10/2009 - 07:02:37 AM | | |
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The mantle is broken as well?
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Chad Fabry
StructureSmart Home Inspection Rochester, NY
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Newberg, OR
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Gaston, Oregon
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drywall crack and bow
[#10] Posted: 07/10/2009 - 2:58:00 PM | | |
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If it were in my part of the country, there'd be a good chance that it'd be rock lath & plaster. If so, the plaster might have delaminated from the lath. That would explain the bowing, the crack & the deflection when you push in on it.
Also in my area, with a 50s ranch you can go into the attic and look straight down at the back of that wall.
- Jim Katen, Oregon
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Jim Katen, Oregon
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Severna Park, Maryland
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drywall crack and bow
[#11] Posted: 07/10/2009 - 5:18:21 PM | | |
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When you shadow the walls with your light, isnt plaster a dead give away most of the time?
The client an I discussed the posibility of plaster right there on the spot. It's not palster.
In the attic, there was 3/4 inch plywood nail down so there was no shot at seeing down the side of the chimney behind the wall.
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John Dirks Jr - Arundel Home Inspection LLC - MD license: 29827
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Collins, NY
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drywall crack and bow
[#12] Posted: 07/11/2009 - 09:12:01 AM | | |
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| Quote: Originally posted by Jim Katen
If it were in my part of the country, there'd be a good chance that it'd be rock lath & plaster. If so, the plaster might have delaminated from the lath. That would explain the bowing, the crack & the deflection when you push in on it.
Also in my area, with a 50s ranch you can go into the attic and look straight down at the back of that wall.
- Jim Katen, Oregon
Jim,
Do you have any idea how early gypsum based lath appeared? I ask because I have come accross two c1907 homes that have it and it appears to be original.
Thanks,
Tom
Oh yeah, I'd have guessed plaster on that house too. Ten years newer and it would have been gypsum sheathed, with GWB on the interior.
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Kenmore, WA
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drywall crack and bow
[#13] Posted: 07/11/2009 - 09:35:54 AM | | |
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Quote: Originally posted by Tom RaymondQuote: Originally posted by Jim Katen
If it were in my part of the country, there'd be a good chance that it'd be rock lath & plaster. If so, the plaster might have delaminated from the lath. That would explain the bowing, the crack & the deflection when you push in on it.
Also in my area, with a 50s ranch you can go into the attic and look straight down at the back of that wall.
- Jim Katen, Oregon
Jim, Do you have any idea how early gypsum based lath appeared? I ask because I have come accross two c1907 homes that have it and it appears to be original. Thanks, Tom Oh yeah, I'd have guessed plaster on that house too. Ten years newer and it would have been gypsum sheathed, with GWB on the interior.
OT - OF!!!
M.
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Chicago, IL
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drywall crack and bow
[#14] Posted: 07/11/2009 - 10:34:35 AM | | |
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Yep.
A customer/friend of mine works at USG. They're "celebrating", although it's kind of hard what with USG being in and out of bankruptcy proceedings all the time.
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Kurt in Chicago
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Gaston, Oregon
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Severna Park, Maryland
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Little Rock, AR
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drywall crack and bow
[#17] Posted: 07/12/2009 - 5:47:20 PM | | |
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Sure looks like plaster over rock to me.
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Kevin
"Politicians are interested in people. Not that it is always a virtue; fleas are interested in dogs." P.J. O'Rourke
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Rochester, New York
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Seattle, WA
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St. Louis, Missouri
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Little Rock, AR
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drywall crack and bow
[#21] Posted: 07/13/2009 - 6:30:06 PM | | |
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Quote: Originally posted by JeremyDPQuote: Originally posted by John Dirks Jr
...Wouldn't plaster have had some kind of crumbling associated along the crack? ... With that, it would seem to be a settling issue.
At least it has been the times I've seen it...
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Kevin
"Politicians are interested in people. Not that it is always a virtue; fleas are interested in dogs." P.J. O'Rourke
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New Haven, ct
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drywall crack and bow
[#22] Posted: 01/16/2011 - 6:55:36 PM | | |
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I am wondering what was ultimately found to be the cause of the bowing and cracking. I have similar bowing and cracking above my fireplace. In my house, it is definitely drywall, not plaster.
Of the the two possible causes discussed (water or settling) which would be more of a concern and more costly to repair?
Thank you in advance!
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Ashland, VA
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New Haven, ct
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drywall crack and bow
[#24] Posted: 01/17/2011 - 05:14:46 AM | | |
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Thanks mgbinspect. That sounds like it would be less serious than the other two possibilities.
I took some pictures of the problem:
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Lafayette, Louisiana
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drywall crack and bow
[#25] Posted: 01/17/2011 - 06:06:45 AM | | |
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Quote: Originally posted by nancyannesThanks mgbinspect. That sounds like it would be less serious than the other two possibilities. I took some pictures of the problem: Click to View
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Looking at those photos, it looks like the crack might be related to what appears to be a flange behind the drywall. The profile of that flange can be seen quite easily and may be related to the mantle or prefabbed fireplace. Evidently, the perimeter of the flange has been patched.
I don't see a structural issue or anything worthy of concern.
Marc
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Ashland, VA
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drywall crack and bow
[#26] Posted: 01/17/2011 - 07:13:45 AM | | |
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My guess, based upon the photos, is that the masonry has settled and rotated inward slightly. The drywall is thereby punched in a bit in that little rectangular area, because it was directly over the masonry. Above that area, the masonry began to step back.
Chimneys in old homes do settle, but it's typically not a beg deal, because the entire structure serves as reinforcement and stabilization.
I would not be too concerned about it, but I would recommend that you have the firebox, throat and flue inspected by a certified sweep that uses a camera, just to be certain about the integrity of the system. I would also consider having it looked at by a structural engineer (mostly for peace of mind), so you need not worry about it anymore. The engineer won't cost very much.
We'd love to hear what the final diagnosis is.
Oh, and by the way, if the sweep recommends a total relining of the flue, GET A SECOND OPINION. Sweeps are notorious for scaring folks into spending money they need not spend.
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