The good news is ceiling cracks aren’t always serious. Sometimes, they’re just ugly. Whether or not ceiling cracks are structurally significant (that means they’re serious) depends on the crack’s location, size, and type. Older homes are more likely to have ceiling cracks.
Examples of ceiling cracks that aren’t structurally significant and shouldn’t cause you to worry include,
Spiderweb cracks – These are usually caused by paint build-up after many years and obviously more common in older homes.
Straight cracks – Most of the time, straight cracks are caused by improper drywall installation. When not enough drywall mud is used, the tape can pull away, creating what looks like a ceiling crack.