Do you have a crack, split or separation in your drywall that seems oddly straight? Not a random zig zag crack as you typically see but a straight as an arrow crack. If it is located horizontally where your wall meets the ceiling or vertically on the corner of a wall the answer is - loose drywall tape.

Most people are not aware that when a wall is being finished it is necessary to embed drywall tape on every intersection of drywall. This includes all inside and outside corners. This drywall tape is not actually sticky. It’s more like paper and kind of looks like 2 inch wide masking tape without the sticky side. What makes it stick is embedding it in joint compound (drywall mud) when finishing the wall. A thin layer of mud goes on, then the tape, then another layer of mud to fully bury it. The tape allows the intersection of the two separate pieces of drywall forming the corner, to move independently UNDER the tape with natural expansion and contraction without cracking the joint compound.

Installed correctly you’ll never see the drywall tape. However, when you see that straight crack/separation show up it’s usually from one of two things. If the installer failed to put the first layer of mud down and was just relying on the top coat to hold it, the tape can come loose and show itself. Secondly, if there is abnormal movement or settlement in the wall it can pop the tape loose and there you have it, that ruler straight crack on the ceiling or corner you may have wondered about. I’m always available to discuss real estate in and around the Dayton OH area.

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