Masonry crack repair has always been a constant in the masonry industry. The earth moves, buildings move and cracks appear so they will likely continue into the future as well. Do you need a masonry repair on your home due to cracks?
Well take a deep breath and relax. You’re not alone. Millions of homeowners have experienced this problem as well. So don’t grab the For Sale sign just yet! Read these handy tips to understand what may be happening to your home.
1.) Settlement Cracks – These common masonry repair cracks usually manifest as a ‘stair step crack’ or a crack that steps up as it moves horizontally across the wall. Found at or close to the corners of the home, wing walls and quoin corners they are common and easy to perform a masonry repair on. Just watch and expect additional movement if the settlement has not stopped.
Solution: Contact your local masonry repair pro to have these cracks repaired to keep water, bugs and reptiles from entering the home.
2.) Thermal Expansion Cracks - A vertical or stair step crack usually located in the upper portions of the masonry can be caused by thermal expansion. Bricks walls expand when heated by the sun and if expansion joints are not present, can cause cracks. These cracks appear anywhere within the surface of the sunny wall or in close proximity to abutting walls
Solution: Contact your local masonry repair pro for an evaluation. Some cracks are simple for a masonry repair pro to evaluate and others may require an engineer’s analysis and testing to determine the cause and recommend the type of repair needed.
3.) Steel Expansion Cracks – Another common crack occurs at the upper corners of doorways, garage doors, windows or any opening. The usual culprit is the steel that supports the masonry above these openings. This is due to the daily and seasonal differential movement between the steel and the brick materials which expand at different rates.
Solution: Contact your local masonry repair pro to have these cracks repaired or caulked. Caulking will move with the materials and help minimize future cracking.
4.) Bulging or Bowed Wall Cracks – Cracks can appear throughout an entire wall or the wall is bulged, bowed in or out or has sunken. This is a serious issue and is usually the symptom of age related failure or structural failure due to improper reinforcement of the masonry.
Solution: Contact a structural engineer immediately for an evaluation and recommended repairs.
It is a good idea to check your home annually for signs of cracking or structural damage in the bricks on your home. Contact Us
