Best way to repair crack in Gyprock

[Hybrid]

I have this crack above my back door. I have filled over it a few months ago, but the crack has now penetrated through the filler. I just wanted some advice from the experienced people here on the best method of repairing this crack.

Thanks :)

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/2161/crack0vi.th.jpg (http://img120.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crack0vi.jpg)

[K_S]

Gday Hybrid

Is there anyway you can get under the floor to check if the problem is down there??
If it is it will probably keep coming back.

Keith S

[Hybrid]

I can get under the house and have a look. What exactly should I be looking for?

[falcon]

The crack is most likely a result of movement. If this is the only place there is a crack above the door then perhaps the frame is loose and closing the door etc is causing movement. Not sure how you'd check that though.

Also the plasterboard maybe hard up against the frame. Usually there is a cap to allow for movement.

The drought is causing cracking in many houses at the moment.

[Hybrid]

If this is the only place there is a crack above the door then perhaps the frame is loose and closing the door etc is causing movement. Not sure how you'd check that though.

The drought is causing cracking in many houses at the moment.

This is the only crack on any of the walls inside the house, so the idea of the door frame being loose is probably more likely I guess. The crack has been there for a number of years. I covered it with filler about 12 months ago, then the crack reappeared probably within two months.

I am just getting around to painting that wall now :B :B but first I need to fix this permanently.

[Tools]

The crack is most likely from general movement of the building.I assume your walls are plasterboard.You will need to scrape off all of that filler,and use some reinforcing tape over the crack before using base and top coat over the top.

Tools

[K_S]

I can get under the house and have a look. What exactly should I be looking for?

Check around the footings for signs of movement and/or cracking (inside and outside), check stumps for movement, rot, looseness etc, check general state of everything near area with crack.

It may not be anything there but at least you will know.

PS: Watch out for creepy crawly bitey thingys:D

BTW: You'll need a good light to make it worthwhile.

goodluck

Keith S

[rod@plasterbrok]

Hi this is a typical weak spot for cracking to occur. However if it was a joint over a door that has cracked the crack would be vertical.

The fact that the crack has gone off at an angle throught the board itself would indicate that some downward pressure exists.

It is quite common in periods of drought for these types of cracks to appear as the ground under foundations drys out and moves.

Fixing the crack just with a filler will not indicate if the problem is worsening or not, due to the fact any crack in plasterboard filled this way without tape will definitly crack again.

There are a few threads below that will describe in detail how to repair this crack. http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=34763

I would repair the crack following those methods and then if it reapprears then you would need to take a serious look at the foundations.

If there were worsening conditions the crack will surely reappear even when fixed correctly. If not you wont have any further problems.

Cheers

Rod Dyson