Previously, the drywall ceiling in our kitchen had several cracks in it. We had a drywall guy in to repair, but explained that the repair may not work. His concern was that maybe the ceiling had gotten wet (from previous owners) and that was the reason for the cracks. Well, the repairs did not hold on two of the largers cracks. One spans the length of the kitchen into the living area and the other is shorter. I'm not sure how we can eliminate this issue. It's an eye sore and I would like it repaired. The issue is that the ceiling spans the length of the kitchen and living room so tear out and replacement would be a mess. Any ideas what may be causing this issue and how to fix it?

If the ceiling runs from the kitchen to the living room parallel to the ceiling or second floor joists (whichever you have), and there is no beam between the two rooms, then there should be an "upset" beam above the ceiling that spans across the opening, and that may be structurally suspect, and could be causing the cracks.

How old is the house?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Richard Hetzel,

Hi Richard,

Thanks so much for responding. The house is 20 years old. What would you recommend in terms of getting this repaired? Do we need to call in a structual engineer, architect, or carpenter? Your knowledge is appreciated.

IF the problem is what I guessed it is, you will need someone who understands structural design...either a structural engineer, or an architect who is qualified to do structural design.

He or she would have to examine the existing structure, and then perform calculations to verify the adequacy of all the structural components in that area, and then, if a component is deficient, design the remedial procedure. It isn't a huge issue in terms of time required, so shop around, because fees in a case like yours can vary widely.

Is the cieling constructed of gypsum board or is it an old lath and plaster system?

Matt
tile and paint contractor

The ceiling is contructed of gypsum board.