In our new addition the drywall is cracked in all corners of the windows as well as the caulk completely separated.
by
Carrie
+12
What do we do? What made this happen?
drywall and caulk cracked after just a couple of months after being built
15 answers
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This happened within months of the room being built
Carrie
on Mar 25, 2011
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Hi Carrie, Those are some pretty nasty looking cracks. The first thing that comes to mind, since you said this was a new addition, is that the new foundation is settling which is causing the cracks. The best thing to do for now is to use a paintable latex caulk and fill the cracks. Touch up the paint when the caulk is dry. Cracks may return as the foundation settles more. Keep dated pictures if they keep reappearing in case you need them later on.
Dan's of Central Florida, Inc.
on Mar 25, 2011
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Hello again Carrie, Yes, typically as a new structure settles its foundation cracks will appear. It might take months or even years for a building to fully settle depending on how it's built and the local earth conditions. If you are truly worried about it, have it looked at by a different professional. While the chances are low, it could be the result of defective materials or labor.
Dan's of Central Florida, Inc.
on Mar 25, 2011
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It isn't the foundation because nothing else is cracking in the room, it's that the windows weren't done right it seems. Also, the tile shower built last June is cracking along grout lines up and down as well as side to side on the bottom; water is going behing the wall now.
Carrie
on Mar 29, 2011
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I'll agree with Dan in saying that you might have a corner of the addition's foundation settling. His suggestions for a fix and in keeping a record of the settling with dated pictures should you have a serious problem that requires litigation.
Brent B
on Mar 29, 2011
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This damage is caused from settling judging from the age of the work and the extent of it. Do the windows still open? Also, check for any leaks throughout the whole house. Horrible workmanship.
Carl Peters Jr.
on Mar 29, 2011
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This is not settling. It is not normal and it is not to be expected on a new addition. This is a poor job done by the person who did the work. Call the contractor who did the work and have them correct it.
Paul Slayton Contracting
on Mar 29, 2011
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We tried to get the contractor to fix it. He told us it was our fault for not allowing him to frame in the windows (we wanted the windows to look exactly like the windows in the rest of the house, they don't have framing all around them.) Anyway, the tile shower is now falling down also. In the middle of December he said he'd come after the holidays to look at the shower and fix the roof leak damage; again, not the windows. After the holidays, when we emailed to ask when he was coming, he sent a reply that he "closed the business towards the end of the year". So, he lied in December about coming out to look at some of the problems and fix some, he was buying time til the end of the year.
Carrie
on Apr 04, 2011
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Hi Carrie, Wow, that really stinks. I'm sorry for your bad situation there. You might think about speaking with a lawyer if you think that is appropriate. From the sound of things, it is going to cost you at the very least a few thousand dollars to get things fixed. For the record, I am not a lawyer and this is not meant to be legal advice. Still, I'd look into it if it were me. :)
Dan's of Central Florida, Inc.
on Apr 04, 2011
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carrie it looks to me as if he didn't know what he was doing.crack in the coner is from not using tape .its not a hard fix
Frank
on Apr 04, 2011
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Obvious question but I have to ask..... Was it permitted and inspected? And was it permitted by a State Lic Contractor? Just asking..... If it was, anyone worth thier salt would rectify the problem if staying in business is their goal.
Level One Construction Co., LLC
on Apr 04, 2011
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too much here to discuss but i'll guess there was no soil compaction test done prior to placing the conc for the addl footings& EVERYTHING sits on the foundations,,, could be he also got mtls from the apron/vest store instead of a pro supply lumber yard,,, the 3rd part of the equation MAY be his lack of skill,,, tough call but you possibly do have some recourse in court ! did you take the lowest price ?
Itsreally C
on Apr 04, 2011
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May I suggest that you find an older seasoned builder/contractor/carpenter and hire him to evaluate the whole situation. Could be settling, could be never framed sufficiently for a heavy tile/stone shower. Can you get hold of the plumber and or tile installer to see if the proper procedures were used? An older builder should be able to see whats going on. Give him ALL the details, history and documentation of the project. Good luck.
Glkirk Builders Inc.
on Nov 07, 2011
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holy crap...get a state inspector out there and fall a foundation repair company. this is bad work. your house is probably settling forward, not just down. get a small level and you'll be able to see which direction. it can be caused by a few things but water is the #1 problem. We just had to cash in our 401k to pay for a much less dramatic repair. it required a hylerical pier to be placed in the corner where a new addition met an old room that had inadequate footing. You are in danger of losing a lot more than a window. And btw, he's full of crap....that's not about window installation. That's about foundation structure. Wow!
Sandra A
on Feb 28, 2012
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the state you live in requires contactors to post a bond...so that's where your repair $$ will come in. Also, google 'slab jacking' to find out how to stablilze this corner. you are really in a time crunch here. Be sure to disconnect the water in that bathroom...my gut tells me your sewer lines and drains are not connected.
Sandra A
on Feb 28, 2012
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