December, 1996 To Our Customers, RE: JOB CONDITIONS/SCHEDULES What happens when Mother Nature ignores construction schedules? How much does it cost to repair cracks in drywall? Who pays for repair of cracking? In cold, damp conditions drywall joint cracking is common. The joint compounds do not function properly under those circumstances. Gypsum wallboard expands with the introduction of moisture, as does wood framing. Steel framing expands and contracts with temperature differentials. In fact, structures move fairly dramatically until stabilized. Completed structures which have not been continuously heated and ventilated are susceptible to expansion, movement, and cracking. The manufacturers of drywall finishing products, including paints, are unanimous in the recommendation of maintaining a minimum of 50°F with adequate ventilation for 48 hours prior to taping, and through painting, until stable. When does it become stable? When it is occupied. The responsibility for provision of proper heating and ventilation is beyond our scope, as is the liability for problems experienced due to the failure to provide them.