When it comes to determining if your home has a cracked brick, there are several factors you should consider. Cracked bricks can be indicative of foundation settlement, hydrostatic pressure, or stair-step cracks. Cracks that have completely separated from their mortar may also indicate a larger problem. Cracked bricks may be easily removed by wriggling them out of the crack or by breaking them. If you notice that your cracked brick is causing a deterioration to the building structure, you may want to have them removed.
Foundation settlement
A crack in a brick wall may indicate that your foundation has suffered from differential settlement. This is caused by uneven soil support beneath a portion of the home. Differential settlement is much more expensive to repair than a vertical crack, and the problem may even require you to make structural adjustments to the building after it is fixed. Cracks can be difficult to identify if they are only one side of a wall, but it’s important to know that the crack could also be the result of a deeper problem.
Another common indication of foundation settlement is cracked brick on the exterior of your house. Cracks in the exterior brick look like stair steps. They may appear zig-zag-shaped or stair-stepped, and are an indication that your footing has cracked. During a free in-home inspection, your Acculevel project advisor can take a photo of the crack and explain why it’s likely your home is settling.
Hydrostatic pressure
Cracked brick walls are a sign of advanced settling and can pose a significant risk to the structural integrity of a home. Cracks along foundation walls may also result from hydrostatic pressure. This type of pressure affects bricks and concrete more than any other type of foundation. Cracks in foundation walls often appear in step-like patterns and occur along joints. These cracks should be monitored closely and repaired as soon as possible.
The hydrostatic pressure that cracks brick walls is caused by the weight of water. Water moves downhill due to gravity. If it’s buried beneath a slab, the water will flow down the cracks and cause it to buckle. This process can be prevented by following proper water management practices. For example, if a building is built on a hillside, the pressure can reach up to five times the height of the foundation wall.
Stair-step cracks
The most common cause of stair-step cracks in brick houses is uneven settling of the foundation. Cracks that extend through bricks or extend into the wall are signs of a foundation problem. A professional repair can repair these cracks at the source. Bricks that expand and contract as they are exposed to humidity will develop cracks along the walls seams. Bricklayers often fail to provide enough space in between bricks during construction.
The first step in repairing stair-step cracks in brick walls is to identify the cause of the problem. While this problem can be remedied through patching, it’s important to understand why it’s occurring in the first place. While some cracks are caused by a deteriorating foundation, others are caused by excess pressure. If you notice a crack in your stairway, contact a professional mason and get it inspected.
Vertical cracks near wall seams
If you notice vertical cracks near the wall seams of a cracked brick wall, it might be caused by differential settlement. Differential settlement occurs when a building’s load is different on each side, causing the wall to settle differently. When this happens, the cracks increase in size along the wall seam, while the crack on the other side decreases. In many cases, the cause of these cracks is not settlement, but a faulty builder or an uneven distribution of stress.
Another problem you might encounter is horizontal cracks. These cracks can occur if a wall is bowing. Having a straight wall is preferable because cracks that run vertically can’t develop. In such cases, it’s better to call a structural engineer. However, if your wall has cracks on both sides, you might not need to fix them right away. If you’re not sure whether the crack is vertical or horizontal, measure its length.
Repair options
If you have cracked brick, you may be wondering what the best repair option is for the brick wall. If you can fix it yourself, this would save you a great deal of money and trouble. The first thing you should do is to identify the location of the crack. The crack could be on one side only, or it could be on both sides. When examining a brick wall, it is important to note where the crack begins and ends, as well as whether it extends to a doorway, through a DPC, or to the foundation. If it extends to the foundation, you will need to repair the foundation.
A cracked wall may have a number of causes, including settling and foundation issues. Poor maintenance of foundations can also cause cracks in brick walls. For example, improperly maintained concrete foundations can expose steel reinforcement to moisture, which can cause the bricks to crack. Even the smallest cracks can be repaired with paint or filler. Larger cracks, however, may need to be repaired because they could cause the wall to collapse and damage nearby properties.