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I don't Know if this is a stupid question, but I have no idea who to even begin to ask or call to ask. General contractor? Roofer? Etc? We noticed after we moved in that one spot of our house creeks very badly when it is windy out. Like LOUD, kids hiding in a corner loud. There are no cracks going down the wall, but we've just noticed it's developed cracks between the crown molding and the ceiling. I am almost positive it is newer crown molding that they put in right before we bought it. I know it can just be shoddy work putting up the crown molding, but the only two spots it's cracking is on the exterior wall that is creaking. It is a large vaulted wall. The other side of the wall that faces the interior is not cracked. I will try to attach some pictures. I guess I am honestly terrified that there is something structurally wrong, but would there be any other evidence like cracks going down the wall? I know it's not literally going to (uh, hopefully??), but it sounds like the roof is about to rip off in the storm!
The crack you are seeing, I think, is where they used caulking (or possibly just paint) to hide gaps between the top of the moulding and the ceiling. It's not structural at all, so your walls won't start cracking. It's probably because the ceiling has a textured pattern and isn't a smooth ceiling, so the moulding didn't fit flush against the ceiling - and they hid the gaps with caulking (or paint).
We had issues like this with our house - we even had the exact same pattern on the ceiling that you do. We ended up just removing the moulding totally.
Is that the only place in the house that has the moulding? Does the wind hit that side of the house where the window is?
We had a window upstairs that creaked when it was windy. Years of living there we discovered that that window didn't have sufficient caulking and wind actually seeped in from under the trim. I found out when we replaced the trim - caulked it up and no more creaking.
I read an article a few years back on an issue just like this but in Florida. Seems the builders took a shortcut thru the roof framing and there were zero laterals in the trusses and zero end wall bracing at the gables. Not knowing what kind of roof structure you have, I'd certainly check it out or have it checked. Many a roof collapsed during a hurricane in Florida because of it so I wouldn't put this off. You may even need a structural engineer to take a look at it.
Is that the only place in the house that has the moulding? Does the wind hit that side of the house where the window is?
We had a window upstairs that creaked when it was windy. Years of living there we discovered that that window didn't have sufficient caulking and wind actually seeped in from under the trim. I found out when we replaced the trim - caulked it up and no more creaking.
Could be something similar.
All houses move a bit in the wind.
Yes, this is the only place that has the molding. It's a separate room so we thought it was just decorative, but now we wonder if they're hiding something behind it? And yes the wind hits this wall pretty directly. It's at the back of the house and that room basically sticks out away from the house so 3 walls are exposed.
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