Fixing crack in Lanai ceiling

[jrref]

A friend of mine has a crack in the seam in their Lanai ceiling. In this case it looks like the tape has separated so the section needs to be repaired. It's not a simple hairline crack that can be filled with caulk and re-painted.

Does anyone have any recommendations for someone that has a good record of being able to replair this type of problem? From talking with some people i know they say it's very difficult to get the "knock down" coating the same or even close to the original and the final repair is usually very noticable.

My guess is there has to be some sheetrock professionals that have the skill to do fix this so it's not too noticable.

[vintageogauge]

I fixed mine by mixing plaster with the ceiling paint to make a not too thick paste and then brushed it on with an artists brush. If the ceiling is relatively new it blends in very well if it's an older house you will see the difference in the paint color. It will come back again as they tend to close up in the heat of summer and then open back up again in the colder months. I now just live with it, it's not really that noticeable.

[retiredguy123]

Any drywall contractor can fix it, but the problem is that the crack will probably come back. The crack needs to be opened up and filled with a flexible caulking product that will expand and contract when the ceiling does. Most contractors will just apply a regular drywall compound and it will look great for several months until the crack returns.

[Jim 9922]

Try calling Lori at A Touch Of Drywall. 352-636-6859. She fixed several tape pull-aways for us . Part of her patching process includes applying additional drywall screws along the affected joints to make sure everything is solid and stable. She matched the knock down texture perfectly. You will have to touch up the paint once everything dries. She puts plastic drops all over the room so dust problems are kept to a minimum. I personally felt that she undercharged for her time and the work performed and included a "tip" to bring it up to the worth of the work she did for us.

[frose]

quick fix is some stucco repair. correct fix, slab is separating. any other detectable cracks in the walls or corners?? I've seen this in a couple of houses in here.. sand base, incorrect compacting and poor quality cement.. hope that's not the case.

[jrref]

Only one of the seams in the ceiling cracked. Looks like a bad taping job when the house was built. The joints where the ceiling meets the house are all good.

In my Lanai i had a couple of hairline cracks in a couple of ceiling seams so we caulked it with Lighthouse Products Elastomeric Gun Grade Patching Compound Kover Krack, then painted. The folks at Sherwin Williams recommended it. It's mainly used to fill cracks in exterior stucco but it's an exterior and interior product and should be good for both. They said although the crack will eventually come back, this product should last many years. It's a textured caulk so it fills and covers well. After painting you can't see the cracks but i'll let you know how long it actually lasts.

[MDLNB]

I thought crack was illegal...........:1rotfl:

[RICH1]

fiber-mesh tape does wonders! The question is does your friend have a Roof leak or an attic moisture problem? Start High

[JMintzer]

I thought crack was illegal...........:1rotfl:

Only the plumber's variety...:1rotfl:

[HiHoSteveO]

A friend of mine has a crack in the seam in their Lanai ceiling. In this case it looks like the tape has separated so the section needs to be repaired. It's not a simple hairline crack that can be filled with caulk and re-painted.

Does anyone have any recommendations for someone that has a good record of being able to replair this type of problem? From talking with some people i know they say it's very difficult to get the "knock down" coating the same or even close to the original and the final repair is usually very noticable.

My guess is there has to be some sheetrock professionals that have the skill to do fix this so it's not too noticable.

Many, many posts here in TOTV about this.
In answer to your question, I recall that the info in Post #4 is accurate according to others who have posted here over the years. I think that she requires the ceiling in lanai be insulated before she repairs.

Here is some info from "The Property Owners Association" POA of The Villages | Property Owners Association of the Villages (https://poa4us.org/) regarding their request from owners to document and mail them pictures of the cracking. They received over one thousand responses.

"Cracked Lanai & Ceiling Issues- During 2017 the POA was contacted by over 1,000 residents who experienced cracks in the drywall of their lanai or garage ceilings. The POA put together a team to inspect these situations and hired an independent engineer & contractors (with no ties to the Villages’) who visited over 100 of these homes. They found that most of the homes were built after 2008. The affected areas were isolated to non-temperature- controlled spaces & they were not insulated. In 2018 the Biller Reinhart Engineering firm issued its final report which indicated there were no violations of Florida building codes. The engineering firm believes that the observed cracking appears to be due exposure to environmental conditions such as temperature changes & humidity. Although there were no code violations, but based upon recommendations by the engineer, the POA believes that better quality materials could have been used to ensure higher quality. The POA hopes that the Developer will take this information to his sub-contractors & insist on newer standards to improve the quality of construction and prevent a similar problem from recurring"

[oldyeller]

Two strips of pine painted, a couple of nails, voila!
[url=https://photos.app.goo.gl/sm3rRzm9z5678Stj8]

[markfrat]

Call Lori Krusts of A Touch of Dry Wall she is the best
She repaired my ceiling in the bedroom and you cant tell at all where she repaired it.


A friend of mine has a crack in the seam in their Lanai ceiling. In this case it looks like the tape has separated so the section needs to be repaired. It's not a simple hairline crack that can be filled with caulk and re-painted.

Does anyone have any recommendations for someone that has a good record of being able to replair this type of problem? From talking with some people i know they say it's very difficult to get the "knock down" coating the same or even close to the original and the final repair is usually very noticable.

My guess is there has to be some sheetrock professionals that have the skill to do fix this so it's not too noticable.

[RobertWR]

I applied a molding over the top of each failed joint. These locations were the same dimension between each other. Then ran the molding perpendicular creating panels. Painted it out and the cracks will never be seen again and the panels add a decorative element.

Did something similar in the garage.

[jrref]

I suspected that insulating the lanai ceiling might help. Are there any companies that you know here in the Villages that can blow in insulation over the lanai? Maybe though the soffits and not having to open up the ceiling?

[retiredguy123]

I suspected that insulating the lanai ceiling might help. Are there any companies that you know here in the Villages that can blow in insulation over the lanai? Maybe though the soffits and not having to open up the ceiling?
If your lanai is not heated or cooled, adding insulation above the ceiling will be a waste of money. It won't accomplish anything. Insulation is only used to slow down the heat transfer between a conditioned space and an unconditioned space. That is why the builder doesn't insulate the ceilings above the lanai and the garage.

[jrref]

Understood but we have a hot tub in our open Lanai which we haven't used yet, so would the heat from the tub make any difference? One thing we noticed was slight shadow's of the beams on the ceiling when we bought the house. We think it was from the previous owners using candles and the hot tub. We repainted the ceiling high with Sherwin Williams outdoor primer/paint so we will see if the shadows come back.

[retiredguy123]

Understood but we have a hot tub in our open Lanai which we haven't used yet, so would the heat from the tub make any difference? One thing we noticed was slight shadow's of the beams on the ceiling when we bought the house. We think it was from the previous owners using candles and the hot tub. We repainted the ceiling high with Sherwin Williams outdoor primer/paint so we will see if the shadows come back.
I wouldn't insulate the ceiling because of the hot tub, unless you want to heat the lanai in cold weather. In any event, I don't think an insulated ceiling will have any effect on the ceiling crack issue.

[Hans53]

agree - Lori is an artist.

[patfla06]

Try calling Lori at A Touch Of Drywall. 352-636-6859. She fixed several tape pull-aways for us . Part of her patching process includes applying additional drywall screws along the affected joints to make sure everything is solid and stable. She matched the knock down texture perfectly. You will have to touch up the paint once everything dries. She puts plastic drops all over the room so dust problems are kept to a minimum. I personally felt that she undercharged for her time and the work performed and included a "tip" to bring it up to the worth of the work she did for us.

We had Lori look at a ceiling crack, she walked in & took a look at it and told us NO I can’t do it. ??

[DAVES]

Two strips of pine painted, a couple of nails, voila!
[url=https://photos.app.goo.gl/sm3rRzm9z5678Stj8]

A good solution. People do not seem to realize, molding is used to cover disguise such issues. Wood-framing-will always move as it absorbs and looses moisture. Sheet rock does not move.

[Mrfriendly]

I applied a molding over the top of each failed joint. These locations were the same dimension between each other. Then ran the molding perpendicular creating panels. Painted it out and the cracks will never be seen again and the panels add a decorative element.

Did something similar in the garage.
Robert, feel like posting a pic of your lanai ceiling ? I wanted to cover with vinyl soffit breadboard. Thanks.

[villagetinker]

Understood but we have a hot tub in our open Lanai which we haven't used yet, so would the heat from the tub make any difference? One thing we noticed was slight shadow's of the beams on the ceiling when we bought the house. We think it was from the previous owners using candles and the hot tub. We repainted the ceiling high with Sherwin Williams outdoor primer/paint so we will see if the shadows come back.

We have a large (8' by 8') hot tub set for 102 degrees in our screened lanai, for 8 years, no problems. Recently developed a crack in the lanai ceiling away from the hot tube, appears to be due to weather temperature changes.

[ElDiabloJoe]

We have a large (8' by 8') hot tub set for 102 degrees in our screened lanai, for 8 years, no problems. Recently developed a crack in the lanai ceiling away from the hot tube, appears to be due to weather temperature changes.
Hey Villagetinker,

We can take this off-channel if you like, so as to not hijack the thread - but it seems to have mostly played out, I want to know more about your hot tub. 8 years! Mind if I ask a couple questions? I assume this is a "freestanding" above ground type? Electric or gas. If electric, 110 or 220? Any issues? Approximate energy usage (how much more per month to run)? Do you keep it on year round? How often to treat/drain/clean? Would you put one in again?

Thanks!

[DAVES]

Robert, feel like posting a pic of your lanai ceiling ? I wanted to cover with vinyl soffit breadboard. Thanks.

Any mistake will show up over time. That suggestion by another villager to cover the joint with molding is a common use for molding-to cover and disguise problems. Today people find traditional cover ups attractive-such as crown molding which was in the past used t disguise the impossible to achieve perfect ceiling to wall joint with REAL traditional plaster.

Not sure I understand what you are trying to do. Vinyl will move far less than wood. If, you will need to apply wide WOOD you will need to allow it to move. If it is securely fastened on both sides of a wide trim board, when it shrinks in dry weather, something has to give. The wood might split lengthwise.

[thevillages2013]

Any mistake will show up over time. That suggestion by another villager to cover the joint with molding is a common use for molding-to cover and disguise problems. Today people find traditional cover ups attractive-such as crown molding which was in the past used t disguise the impossible to achieve perfect ceiling to wall joint with REAL traditional plaster.

Not sure I understand what you are trying to do. Vinyl will move far less than wood. If, you will need to apply wide WOOD you will need to allow it to move. If it is securely fastened on both sides of a wide trim board, when it shrinks in dry weather, something has to give. The wood might split lengthwise.
Absolutely false. Kiln dried wood when kept dry does not shrink or expand. Vinyl shrinks and expands with cool and heat and so does pvc . Why do you think vinyl siding is not nailed tightly?

[thevillages2013]

quick fix is some stucco repair. correct fix, slab is separating. any other detectable cracks in the walls or corners?? I've seen this in a couple of houses in here.. sand base, incorrect compacting and poor quality cement.. hope that's not the case.

It is a Sheetrock ceiling not concrete

[jrref]

Follow-up on this topic.
So after doing some more research and investigation i found when visiting other neighbors and friends if you look hard enough you will find a crack in most open Lanai ceilings. Whether its a hairline or larger crack. Thinking about it, the problem could be from shoddy workmanship but also due to the attic air above the ceiling super heating in the summer.

The answer in my opinion is to install a solar attic fan to reduce the temperature in the attic and or insulate above the lanai. You are not doing this to save money but to have a more stable attic environment which will effect the living space in a small but positive way.

I called the Solar Guys but you can use whomever you want. I had a solar attic fan installed and had insulation blown in over my Lanai. What i found was after installing the attic fan the attic temperature so far hasn't gone over 100 degrees on a 95 degreee day. Now i don't have to worry about my stuff melting in the attic over the garage anymore and the garage is noticably cooler on very hot days. The ceiling on the Lanai doesn't feel hot to the touch any more.

The cost to do all this is not cheap but not crazy expensive and you get a Federal income tax credit on the solar fan. The Solar Guys did a great job, no mess, very professional and provided the necessary paperwork for the tax credit.

Again doing this work is not meant to save money but any lowering of the attic temperature will make the inside of your home cooler and make the A/C work less saving some money over time. And if i don't get any more cracks in my Lanai ceiling i won't have to spend money on repairs every so many years.

[Bilyclub]

quick fix is some stucco repair. correct fix, slab is separating. any other detectable cracks in the walls or corners?? I've seen this in a couple of houses in here.. sand base, incorrect compacting and poor quality cement.. hope that's not the case.

Why would you try and scare somebody by posting their slab is bad? Oh, that's right you recently moved here and hate it. Is your year up yet so you can move?