This is probably due to your house settling and the wetness of the clay soil in the area. I live in the Parkwood Eichlers (the other set in town) and having homes move in this soil is common. I have noticed that my pantry door does not close as well with all of the rain. Your damage looks more extreme than what we have going on.
What you have is similar to what happened to the Austin house in This Old House a couple of years ago. They removed the front gutters and had a lot of rain. The ground got so much water that the fireplace “heaved”. You might want to consider your drainage system. Didn’t you already do a french drain around your place?
Jeff G
We drywalled our Eichler in late 2007. I have noticed some cracks near one doorway and a few windows that appear to follow the seams where the drywall pieces butt up against each other. This may be due to the mud drying out (I noticed the cracks appearing this winter.) or constant settling/movement (that Jeff G mentioned) with the house. My plan is to apply more mud and sand when I decide to repaint the affected areas. (If it helps, I’m the only one in my house who ever notices these details.)
It’s an easy fix. Remove the piece of drywall, and replace it. Use the sticky mesh drywall tape, and mud again.
The tape should make it not crack again. It worked for me.
This is probably due to your house settling and the wetness of the clay soil in the area. I live in the Parkwood Eichlers (the other set in town) and having homes move in this soil is common. I have noticed that my pantry door does not close as well with all of the rain. Your damage looks more extreme than what we have going on.
What you have is similar to what happened to the Austin house in This Old House a couple of years ago. They removed the front gutters and had a lot of rain. The ground got so much water that the fireplace “heaved”. You might want to consider your drainage system. Didn’t you already do a french drain around your place?
Jeff G
We drywalled our Eichler in late 2007. I have noticed some cracks near one doorway and a few windows that appear to follow the seams where the drywall pieces butt up against each other. This may be due to the mud drying out (I noticed the cracks appearing this winter.) or constant settling/movement (that Jeff G mentioned) with the house. My plan is to apply more mud and sand when I decide to repaint the affected areas. (If it helps, I’m the only one in my house who ever notices these details.)
I have the same issue over on Salem Street… It’s a bummer.
It’s an easy fix. Remove the piece of drywall, and replace it. Use the sticky mesh drywall tape, and mud again.
The tape should make it not crack again. It worked for me.