Q&A about rising or arching roof truss uplift & drywall cracks at the ceiling-wall joint: cause, prevention, repair.

This article series explains why arching trusses happen, where the damage will appear, how to recognize it, how to truss uplift cracks from recurring and how best to repair cracks due to rising or arching roof trusses.

Roof Truss Uplift Cracks or Nail Pop FAQs

These questions & answers about the cause & prevention of Roof Truss Uplift and Interior Wall/Ceiling Nail Pops, Drywall Gaps or Cracks were posted originally

at TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF - be sure to read that article too.

The sketch shown here was provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection and education firm.

On 2019-03-11 by (mod) - nailing the ceiling or cornice trim to either only the wall or only the ceiling is a good idea.

I think nailing the ceiling or cornice trim to either only the wall or only the ceiling is a good idea.

However a more thorough fix would be to assure that the truss is not connected to the wall top where it passes over an interior non load-bearing partition

obviously that's what you would have to do from above

On 2019-03-10 by Mike

adding image

On 2019-03-10 by Mike

I have a ceiling/wall crack due to Truss uplift on an outside corner. If you are going to Fix Ceiling/Wall Cracks Due to Truss Uplift with crown molding should you attached the molding a specific way? For example, nail only to the ceiling? Thanks - Mike

On 2019-02-19 by (mod) - what to look for in diagnosing a lump in the ceiling (shown below)

Leaks

Damaged roof sheathing

Damaged roof trusses

On 2019-02-18 by Ng

Thank you. From what I can see of the roof it looks great. I am hoping it is just from the severe cold snap we have had causing some shifting or whatever. It hasn't gotten any worse or wet so hopefully I can get up there soon. Any ideas what I should be looking for?

On 2019-02-18 by (mod) - ceiling damage from loads from above - nail pops?

It looks like something pressing on the drywall but I can't tell more without inspecting from the attic side

On 2019-02-18 by Ng

It looks like there are faint screwhead/nail head circles when you get very close. What do you mean by pressure spot? Like something is pressing down on a beam in that location? Thank you.

On 2019-02-17 by (mod) -

Ng

That does look like a pressure spot from something above - not quite like a nail pop. Perhaps a closer-look for the outlines of a nail or screw head would help but if that were my home I'd be inspecting from inside the attic as well as from outside.

On 2019-02-17 by Ng

After a heavy snowfall, noticed the following spots in ceiling. Home is going on 3 years old. The spots feel very solid when I knock on the area, compared to hollow sounding next to it. Is it possible that the weight of the unexpected snow caused nail pops? Not wet or damp anywhere.

On 2019-02-01 by (mod) - If the crack at ceiling/wall juncture in your photo is due to a rising roof truss

Danny

If the crack at ceiling/wall juncture in your photo is due to a rising roof truss - and I can't see enough and have no structural information about your building to know that - then a "reinforcing star" type fix is not relevant, won't help, and probably would not even be feasible.

"Star reinfocements" are used in combination with a through rod of steel to reinforce masonry (usually brick) walls that are leaning or bulging. The star acts as a giant washer and the bar runs through and across the building to penetrate and connect the opposing wall.

On 2019-02-01 by Danny Lyle

This is the problem that I have. Is this structural. Will securing the wall with a reinforcing star type fix help this problem. Pic below. It stretches the top of the ceiling, down the wall and over to the wall opening. Any advice will help.

 

On 2018-03-09 by (mod) -

Marsha Please see your question and our detailed reply at the end of TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF

You may need to refresh your browser cache to see the updated article.

On 2018-03-09 by Marsha

I think I may have this problem in my condo, how can it be fixed?

On 2018-01-07 by (mod) - point loads on truss roofs can cause a structural collapse

Ashley,

I suppose uplift under a truss running parallel to a wall might occur, though the forces are less since we have only one or at most two uplifting arching truss chords near the partition wall.

Butch

: the walls won't bend outwards if the bottom chord of the truss (or ceiling joists) are properly nailed to the wall tops, BUT excessive point loads on a roof can indeed damage trusses, even break them or even in extreme cases cause a roof and ceiling collapse.

On 2018-01-03 by Ashley

Hello,
I know roof truss uplift typically occurs in interior walls that run perpendicular to the roof trusses, but CAN this cause cracks at the wall-ceiling joint on a wall that runs parallel to the roof trusses? I live in Texas and the last couple of days we have had unusually cold weather - between 15 and 25 degrees at night, so I expect there to be some movement. Thank you.

On 2015-10-15 by butch

Can weight like stacking shingles in one area cause the truss to bend and put outward pressure on walls?

...

Continue reading at TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BEST INTERIOR FINISH PRACTICES
• CEILING FINISHES INTERIOR
• DRYWALL CRACKS drywall cracking cause & prevention from all causes
• DRYWALL NAIL POPS & DENTS their appearance and all of the various causes (besides roof truss uplift)
• PLASTER BULGES & PILLOWS
• PLASTERBOARD / DRYWALL EXPANSION COEFFICIENTS
• POPPING SNAPPING NOISE DIAGNOSIS
• TRUSSES, FLOOR & ROOF framing & inspection
• TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF

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