Frame

General :

The structural lumber used to construct your home contains moisture. Following occupancy, and particularly during the first heating season, shrinkage caused by "drying out" May occur. The results appear in a variety of forms:

1. Thin cracks appear in exposed wood structural members (e.g. joists and beams)
   
   
2. Small gaps appear between cabinets or vanities and the wall
   
   
3. Minor joints open in door and window trim, baseboards, walls, etc.
   
   
4. Fireplace mantels may shrink slightly and separate from the wall or at joints
   
   
5. Wood flooring opens between individual pieces or settles from the baseboards at wall or under door jambs and trim
   
   
6. Squeaks develop in floor underlay, wood flooring and stair treads
   
   
7. Small gaps show between stairs or stair moldings and the wall
   
   
8. Drywall corners

Millwork :

As mentioned above, shrinkage wili affect the interior wood trim and you may notice that some joints at the corners of windows, doors and baseboards will open slightly. These are normal occurrences and can be remedied with wood putty, plastic wood, coloured putty sticks or similar products, when you next decorate.

Drywall :

If the interior walls or ceilings of your house are finished with "dry wall" (gypsum wallboard) cracks may appear over doors, windows and archways due to the shrinkage of larger sized wood members (behind the drywall) used to span these openings. Such cracking is usually rninor and rarely serious.

Shrink cracks and "nail pops" can be repaired with matching compounds available at hardware stores or retail building supply houses.