< SIGNS OF FOUNDATION PROBLEMS

Drywall Cracks

Fix Drywall Cracks Before They Signal Bigger Foundation Trouble

Do you see cracks on drywall in your Florida home? While some may look like minor cosmetic flaws, many signal foundation settlement or crawl space stress. In Florida’s soils and climate, drywall cracking often points to hidden structural issues that require professional repair.

Interior drywall cracking above the window, needing drywall crack repair in Northern Florida.

What are Drywall Cracks?

Drywall cracks are thin fissures or splits in interior walls and ceilings that often signal movement in the structural stability of your home—not just surface wear. They might seem like cosmetic flaws, but in Florida’s shifting sandy soils, clay pockets, high water tables, and storm-driven climate with high moisture, they are often an early sign of deeper foundation issues. 

 

While some cracks on drywall appear minor, recurring or widening cracks usually point to foundation settlement, which could mean your home’s structure is shifting beneath you.

 

At LUX Foundation Solutions, with 50 years of combined experience, we help Florida homeowners identify whether cracks on drywall are surface-level or a sign of serious structural issues. Our expertise in repairing foundation problems ensures early detection and permanent repair—preventing damage from spreading and protecting the value and safety of your home.

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Common Signs of Drywall Cracks That May Signal Foundation Problems

Drywall cracking isn’t just about paint or plaster—it’s often your first warning sign of foundation stress happening beneath your home. Watch for these key warning signs:

  • Diagonal cracks spreading from the window or door corners toward the ceiling.
  • Vertical or horizontal cracks running along walls or ceilings.
  • Spiderweb or map-like cracking across drywall panels.
  • Gaps forming between floors and walls near cracks in the drywall.
  • Uneven or sloping floors.
  • Doors sticking or frames shifting alongside drywall cracking.

If you notice these drywall cracks in your Florida home, they may be more than cosmetic blemishes. LUX Foundation Solutions provides expert assessments to determine whether cracks are tied to settlement, moisture, or crawl space stress—ensuring you get the right repair before the damage spreads.

Diagonal cracks from windows/doors
Vertical or horizontal cracks running along walls or ceilings
Spiderweb drywall cracks
Gaps forming between floors and walls near drywall cracks
Uneven or sloping floors appearing with drywall cracks
Doors sticking or frames shifting alongside drywall cracks

What Causes Drywall Cracks?

Cracks in drywall are rarely just cosmetic. In Florida, unique climate and soil conditions often accelerate the structural issues behind them. Here’s what might be causing cracks on drywall in your home:

Foundation settlement causing drywall cracks above the window in Palm Coast, FL.

Foundation Settlement or Soil Shifting

As Florida’s sandy soils shift or wash out, parts of a home may sink unevenly. This movement puts stress on walls and ceilings, creating diagonal or stair-step cracking in drywall. These cracks often spread near doors and windows, signaling settlement beyond normal house settling.

Moisture intrusion from poor drainage, causing drywall cracks in Middleburg, FL.

Poor Drainage or Plumbing Leaks

Leaking pipes, poor drainage, or high humidity allow water to collect under your foundation. Over time, this erodes or softens the soil, making your home shift. This movement stresses the drywall and causes cracks—especially in ceilings, corners, and above fixtures where framing is most vulnerable.

Heavy home addition causing drywall cracks and sagging floors in Ocala, FL, due to structural overload.

Structural Overloading

Adding heavy renovations, second stories, or improperly distributed loads places extra stress on foundations. In Florida, where many homes have aging crawl spaces, this overload often leads to drywall cracking as beams deflect, floors sag, and walls pull apart from stress.

Aging drywall and crawl space beams are causing drywall cracks in Orange Park, FL.

Aging Construction Materials

Older Florida homes often rely on undersized beams, aging joists, or brittle drywall materials. With years of humidity exposure, these weaken and shift under load, producing diagonal, vertical, or spiderweb cracks on drywall. Left untreated, these separations expand into more serious structural issues.

Our Proven Drywall Crack Repair Solutions

At LUX Foundation Solutions, we don’t just patch drywall—we identify and repair the cause. Our experts inspect your home, uncover the reason behind the cracks, and apply permanent repair solutions designed for Florida soils and climate. 

 

Here are our proven solutions for fixing cracks in drywall:

Illustration of push piers stabilizing a sinking foundation, a drywall crack repair in Gainesville, FL.

Push Piers
Illustration of main beam installation to fix sagging floors causing cracks, a drywall crack repair in Palatka, FL.

Main beam replacement
Illustration of stabilizer posts installed in the crawl space, a drywall crack repair in Lake City, FL.

Crawl Space Support Posts
Why are drywall cracks getting worse near the base of my exterior walls in Florida?

In Florida, sandy soils and heavy rainfall can cause uneven foundation settlement beneath exterior walls. When the footing shifts, it creates diagonal cracks in the drywall that worsen over time.


At LUX Foundation Solutions, we use GripTite push piers to stabilize the foundation beneath these failing areas, permanently halting movement and preventing further cracking.

We’re seeing drywall cracking above doorways and sagging floors in our Florida home. Could this mean structural failure?

Yes. Moisture and wood rot in crawl spaces can compromise the main support beam, triggering drywall cracking and uneven flooring.


LUX resolves this by replacing the main beam, restoring proper support and alignment throughout the structure—stopping cracks on drywall at the source.

There are new drywall cracks in the hallway, and our floors feel bouncy in Florida. What's causing this?

Florida humidity often weakens crawl space supports. Soft soils and high water tables can cause joists to shift, leading to floor sagging and drywall cracking above.


LUX installs support posts to reinforce these areas, lifting floors and relieving pressure on interior walls, which stops cracks on drywall from spreading.

View more Foundation Repair Solutions

Don’t Ignore Drywall Cracks—Protect Your Florida Home Today

Drywall cracks aren’t just cosmetic—they often reveal foundation settlement or crawl space stress that worsens quickly in Florida’s climate. Fixing cracks in drywall early prevents costly structural damage and protects your home’s value.

 

At LUX Foundation Solutions, we provide expert foundation repair services in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Ocala, Palm Coast, and surrounding areas. Our team offers free estimates, financing options, and permanent solutions tailored to Florida soils and weather.

 

Call 904-921-3589 or request your free estimate online today—let us restore strength, stability, and safety to your home.

Request a free Estimate

Drywall Cracks FAQ’s

When should I worry about drywall cracks in Florida homes?

Worry when drywall cracking appears above doors, runs diagonally, or spreads quickly. In Gainesville or Ocala, these often signal foundation movement caused by shifting soils or excess moisture.


LUX Foundation Solutions offers free assessments to determine if cracks on drywall are cosmetic or a sign of structural foundation issues.

How much does it cost to repair drywall cracks in Florida?

The cost of fixing cracks in drywall depends on the severity and the underlying cause. In Jacksonville or Palm Coast, minor surface cracks may need only patching, but structural cracks from settlement require foundation repair.
LUX provides a tailored assessment and free assessment—no guesswork, just expert guidance for your Florida home.

How can you tell if a drywall crack is structural in a Florida home?

Cracks that widen over time, zigzag above doors, or run along ceilings may be structural. In St. Augustine or Palm Coast, high water tables and soft soils often lead to foundation shifts that show up as drywall damage.
LUX Foundation Solutions inspects these signs to confirm whether structural repairs—like piers or beam support—are needed.

What does it mean if my drywall cracks are growing near windows in Jacksonville, FL?

Cracks that spread diagonally from window corners often point to uneven foundation movement. In Jacksonville’s coastal soil, shifting or settling is common and can stress your wall framing. A professional foundation evaluation can confirm if structural stabilization is needed.

I noticed cracks along the ceiling and wall corners in our Ocala home. Should I be concerned?

Yes. In Ocala’s sandy, erosion-prone terrain, these cracks often indicate the framing is shifting due to foundation issues below. Our team can evaluate whether your support beams or floor joists need reinforcement before more damage occurs.

Our new home in Gainesville has small hairline cracks in the drywall. Is that normal?

Some settling is expected in new homes, but persistent or spreading hairline cracks may reveal poor soil compaction or footing movement. We inspect these signs early to prevent long-term foundation problems and protect your investment.

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