Repairing Stress Cracks In Attic Joist

How to repair drywall cracks in ceiling climb into the attic and remove the insulation from between the ceiling joists directly above the damaged drywall.

Repairing stress cracks in attic joist.

Wait at least six months to a year before repairing stress cracks in new construction. For those pesky recurring cracks we prescribe good bye cracks. Are 2x4 s the appropriate material to sister on there. Use a c clamp on each end to hold the patching in position.

Attach the piece to the. This is usually enough time for a structure to finish settling. Remove any blocking or bridging above the sill or beam where the sister joist will go. Cut a sister joist the same length as the damaged joist.

Position the piece flat alongside the cracked rafter with the lower end at the wall. It works best on hairline cracks but it s worth a try on wider cracks too. Use construction adhesive and c clamps to sister 2x4 s in place. Place one piece of patching material on each side of the joist.

The joist is by my measurements 1 5 x 3 5. Place it next to the damaged joist with the crown side up. Measure mark and cut the piece of framing lumber to length using a circular saw. Place a level on the bottom edge of the joist to determine the amount of sagging that has occurred.

Therefore it is good to be able to recognize warning signs that a problem may exist. If you have wider cracks or sections of loose plaster the lath system beneath the plaster is likely failing in which case the plaster should be removed and replaced with drywall. 6 drill pilot holes for the bolts on each side of the crack. Drill a 3 16 inch diameter hole down into the 1x3 strapping and through the drywall ceiling.

To repair a stress crack first cut out any loose drywall tape or joint compound with a utility knife or the corner of a taping knife. Some cracks keep coming back no matter how well you repair them. Identify the cracked or sagging joist before it causes additional problems. Occasionally ceiling cracks can be a yellow or red flag that there is serious or structural issue.