Changing to a heavier roof-covering material can cause _____ cracking of brittle wall coverings due to additional settling of the framing.

When a heavier roof-covering material is installed, the added weight can lead to increased loads on the structural framing of the home. This additional strain may cause the framing to settle or shift, resulting in various stresses on the walls.

In the context of brittle wall coverings, such as plaster or certain types of drywall, the primary concern is how the changes in tension and compression within the framing can influence these materials. In this scenario, the heavier roof can lead to a reduction in the space available for the wall coverings to flex. As the framing settles, the wall coverings must withstand not just their own weight but also the stress imposed by the movement of the structure. This pressure can lead to cracking when the wall coverings are unable to adapt to the changes.

Specifically, compression is the force that acts to shorten or compress an object. In this case, as the roof materials exert downward pressure, the walls might be pushed inward or simply experience increased pressure at their joints. This can cause brittle materials to crack, since they cannot effectively dissipate the forces without yielding or deforming like more flexible materials can.

Thus, changing to a heavier roof-covering material introduces a compressive force that incumbent wall coverings might respond to with cracking due to their