Drywall cracks are a common source of customer complaints that can cost you big time. There are many causes of drywall cracking – from improper stocking and sheet installation, to poor joint compound application and lack of temperature and humidity control during installation.

For one division of a Top 20 homebuilder, the problem was built into the home.

The builder began receiving complaints from homeowners that cracks were appearing along the ceilings of their great room/kitchen areas. Upon closer examination by IBACOS, a building science consulting firm and BuildIQ's sister company, it was determined that the design and installation of the roof truss framing in these homes was placing stress on the drywall ceiling plane, causing cracks to appear along the long edge joints of the gypsum panels.

More than 1,000 homes throughout 26 communities experienced the same problem. Repairs are ongoing, and the total cost is projected to top $4 million in warranty claims – that’s an average of $3,600 per home.

To prevent cracking, the drywall ceiling must be designed to accommodate movement at critical locations and relieve stresses that will build up as framing members and gypsum panels move. To repair the existing damage, IBACOS recommended using two layers of gypsum installed with perimeter relief joints and control joints where the main ceiling plane intersects hallways and connects with the kitchen ceiling plane.

Want to prevent drywall-related issues in your homes? Read our related article to learn about common causes of drywall cracking and how to prevent them. For a more complete set of Best Practices® for quality drywall installation, sign your team up for an online training course in Drywall from BuildIQ University.