Hairline cracks above doors and windows
These are the most common cracks in Georgia homes, and they're usually harmless. Door and window openings are weak points in a wall, and normal seasonal movement concentrates stress at the corners.
Fix: cut out the crack, re-tape with paper tape, and coat. Simply filling it with caulk or spackle guarantees it comes back.
Long straight cracks along a seam
A crack running perfectly straight for several feet is a failed tape joint. Either the tape was never properly embedded or the framing moved enough to break the bond.
Fix: remove the failed tape entirely, re-tape, and re-coat. Patching over it does not work.
Stair-step or diagonal cracks
Diagonal cracks running from a corner across a wall, especially wide ones, or ones paired with sticking doors and sloping floors, can indicate foundation movement.
Fix: we will repair the drywall, but if we see this pattern we'll tell you to have the foundation evaluated first. Repairing the wall before the movement stops just buys you a repeat.
Cracks with brown staining
Discoloration means water. The crack is a symptom; the leak is the problem.
Fix: find and stop the source, verify the framing is dry, then rebuild. Anyone who offers to just patch and paint over a stained crack is selling you a temporary result.
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