A ceiling cornice is a ceiling moulding that can be either plain or decorative used to create a spectacular appearance, or artistic or decorative design in your home. It serves both functional and aesthetic purposes in commercial and residential buildings.
Homeowners might notice unsightly cracks marring the beauty of their carved cornice. Understanding the root causes of these cracks is essential not only for effective repair but also for preventive maintenance. Let’s look into the primary causes that lead to the cracking of cornices.
What Causes Cracks in Cornices?
Cornices enhance our homes, but various factors can lead to their cracking, necessitating an understanding of repair and prevention.
1. Natural Aging and Wear
Over time, materials used in the construction of cornices can deteriorate. The natural aging process can lead to the weakening of the cornice material, making it more susceptible to cracks.
This is especially true for older homes where the cornices have been exposed to years of temperature fluctuations and potential minor shifts in the building’s structure.
2. Improper Installation
If cornices are not installed correctly, they can be prone to cracking. This could be due to:
- the use of inadequate adhesives
- not allowing materials to acclimate before installation
- not securing the cornices properly to the ceiling and wall
An uneven or rushed installation can put undue stress on the cornice, leading to premature cracking.
3. Physical Impact and Stress
Cornices, especially those that are decorative and protrude from the wall, can be susceptible to physical impact. This could be from:
- moving furniture
- accidental bumps
- seismic activity in earthquake-prone areas
Repeated or significant impact can lead to visible cracks or weaken the structure, leading to potential cracks in the future.
4. Moisture
Moisture in your home can affect the ceiling and it is one of the leading causes of cracks in cornices. The most common sources of moisture that cause ceiling damage are plumbing leaks from the floor above originating from bathtubs, sinks or plumbing vents.
If a heavy storm occurs with excessive precipitation and high winds, you might notice some evidence of moisture in the ceiling, which means that your house suffered from roof damage caused by the heavy storm.
After that, significant fluctuations in temperature, which is a combination of drastic changes in temperature and moisture, can lead to causing cracks in the cornices. The drastic changes in high and low temperatures can put stress on your ceiling joints and materials, leading to cornice cracks.
5. Inferior Foundation
A weak or inferior foundation can cause an extensive range of structural problems in your home, including wall and ceiling damage.
It’s vital to seek the services of a professional service company to inspect the structural problems in your home and provide a solution to the problem. It’s vital to be aware of and recognize any structural problems, including an inferior foundation before they become a bigger problem.
How to Fix Cornice Cracks
It’s vital to be aware of any cracked ceilings or cornices in your home. You need to inspect and determine the leading causes of the cracked ceiling cornice and search for a reliable service company that can provide ceiling cornice repair services.
While you are struggling to figure out how to fix the cornice cracks in your home, you should seek the expert services of Southern Ceiling Repairs, the leading ceiling and cornice repairs.
Southern Ceiling Repairs has a team of professional experts who will determine the leading causes of cornice cracks and help to do cornice crack repairs in your home.
We have a team of skilled experts in ceiling repairs in Albany and southern Perth who will thoroughly inspect the leading causes of ceiling cracks. If they find any structural or moisture damage, they will have a lasting solution to the problem.
If you have any further questions or inquiries about the services offered by our company contact our reliable service company via 0433 653 333 to get free quotes and the best customer service.
