![]() ![]() The chance it relates to your foundation increases if the crack reaches down the footing of your home towards the foundation. You may also notice a related crack on the adjacent wall corner. These cracks may appear on exterior or interior walls, including crawl spaces and basement walls. Stair-step cracks are commonly associated with foundation issues. In some cases, cracks may signal more serious issues such as a foundation problem. Plus, there are simple repairs available to seal them up and prevent them from worsening or leading to issues. Most cracks are minor and little cause for concern. This movement may be incredibly slow, but it can still cause cracks to surface over time.īrick homes very commonly show cracks in mortar joints or the actual brickwork. That’s because the earth tends to move more on a hillside. These types of cracks are a larger concern if they are accompanied by a bulging wall, or if the crack measures more than ¼-inch wide.Ī house that sits on a hillside is more likely to have stair-step cracks. Visit our CRACKS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.Stair-step shape cracks in masonry may signal an underlying issue, including the potential for foundation issues. Why did so many concrete block homes collapse in Mexico Beach during Hurricane Michael?.How do I recognize serious structural problems in a house?.How do I recognize structural problems in a retaining wall?.What would cause long horizontal lines of brick mortar to fall out?.There's cracks running along the home's concrete tie beam.Where are the places to look to find structural cracks in a house?.How can I tell if a diagonal crack in drywall at the corner of a window or door indicates a structural problem?.What causes a horizontal crack in a block or brick wall?. ![]() Why is the concrete window sill cracking?.What causes stair-step cracks in a block or brick wall?.What causes raised white lines of residue on a block wall that are crusty and crumbling?.Here’s links to some of our other blog posts about CRACKS: See our article How can I tell if the exterior walls of a house are concrete block (CBS) or wood or brick? for more on this.Ģ) What is the history of the wall? How old is it? Was there a previous structural problem? When was it repaired? The new crack could be a long-standing problem that was only costmetically fixed.ģ) What is the history of the area around the wall? Was there a nearby roof leak, plumbing leak, tree removal, or excavation? We suggest reading What should I do about a tree with roots running under my house?Ĥ) Are there cracks on other walls or ceilings of the home? How does their geometry relate to the one in question?ĥ) How does the thickness of the crack vary? Is it wider at the top or bottom? Thinner at the same point on the inside or outside?Ħ) Any recent severe weather? Heavy rains, severe cold, windstorms.Ĭombining the answers to these questions with your interpretation of the crack geometry will give you a better idea of what’s going on. A brick wall could be structural brick or brick facing over wood stud frame. It could be wood stud frame, or part block and part wood stud frame. Here’s a list of things to check to do a more thorough analysis:ġ) What is the wall really made of? Concrete block walls are sometimes finished with siding and, conversely, a stucco finish does not automatically mean the wall is block. There may be multiple or hidden causes and you need to dig deeper, working backwards from "cause to effect." This way of evaluating a structural problem in a wall is essentially going from “effect to cause." But sometimes the answer isn’t that clear-cut. Each type-inverted “V,” stairstep, vertical, etc-indicates a likely scenario. Understanding what the different wall crack patterns mean can often point you directly to the underlying cause. ![]()
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