Expert: Paul S. Brown, AIA - 5/1/2009

Question
dear sir,
I bought this house less than a year ago and a crack has occurred around the entire area of what seems like a sheetrack in the ceiling of my dining room.  The construction company refuses to repair this because they said that it is settlement and they are not responsible for it.  Please tell me if this could have been caused by settling an if this should happen within the first year of occupancy.

Answer
Hi Paulette:
Is this new construction? Or renovated recently before you bought the house?  Is the crack in the center of the ceiling, or near a corner? If at the corner, settlement could be the cause.  If in the center, then it is more likely poor workmanship.  Even if it is settlement, if it is new construction, and it is less than a year, you are covered under warrantee.  What state are you in?  Many states have laws, nevermind the contractor's warrantee, that states that you are covered against defects for a year after the work is done.
Short answer: don't take 'no' for an answer.  Call your local building department if you need too.  Call your state attorney general's office if you need too.  If it is close to a year since you took acceptance of the work, you should jump on this right away before time expires.
Even if it is over a year; I still think you should pressure them to come back and fix it.
Also:  do a google search on 'Chinese sheetrock'. There was a great deal of bad material brought into the country last year, that was cheap and many builders used it in their development projects.  If you got some of this material in your house, you should find out.  You may be able to join in a class action suit to help cover replacement costs. Hopefully, that is not the problem with your house.
Good luck paulette.  I hope it works out ok for you.  ON the brighter side, this is probably not a dangerous situation; just unsightly.  If it actually starts drooping, and looks like it could fall, then have an expert come in and fix it.
Good Luck!
PB