I am embarking on the renovation of a mountain cabin in snow country. The house is a 30-year-old geodesic dome that has had to bear varying loads of snow over many winters. As a result, the ceiling in the dome, which should be one of its most beautiful features, has developed cracks in the paint & underlying drywall. The cracks have formed along a number of the ceiling seams where triangular faces meet, and some are as wide as 1/2 inch. Though previous attempts have been made to disguise the cracks, they have been only partially successful, perhaps because even after all these years, the ceiling continues to flex with the seasons. I am looking for a more long-term solution. It seems as if it should be possible to patch the cracks, but I don’t think just any old spackle will do. I have heard of a caulk product called “Big Stretch,” and am wondering if it might be useful in addressing this vexing problem. In addition to filling the cracks, the ceiling will require retexturing over some of the repaired areas. Can small areas, like repaired drywall seams, be retextured to successfully blend in with the existing surface? Who is the ideal professional to tackle the job, or is this something in the realm of possibility for do-it-yourselfers?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Sally
Replies
1/2" cracks are well beyond
1/2" cracks are well beyond what happens during roof flexing - domes are famous for being quite stiff structurally - sounds like there are moisture issues lurkinng. Domes are the poster child for poor ventilation of the insulation cavities unless they are filled with foam, which I bet they are not. Moisture condenses inside the wall on the underside of the exterior sheathing and has no place to go.
Fixing the cracks won't solve the real problem.
Any drywall contractor can tape and retexture the seams to match the existing texture, but at a minimum you'll want to use of the painting products that blocks moisture transport through the drywall.
Cracks in Dome
We have a local company that manufactures Domes for years. My aunte/uncle build and lived in 1 over 40 yrs ago. I agree with Don, I recall seeing puddles of water under the plastic, insulation with fiberglass, before drywall was installed.
The local company only uses spray foam now, for this reason.
Sally
What kind of roofing on the dome?
Has it been replaced since construction?