Thread: Stair step crack in the brick veneer

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I would say its probably caused from the lack of brick ties in the wall system.

Rick

U

Originally Posted by nitin gupta

We have some cracks in theexterior wall of our 5 year old house that is still under 10 year structuralwarranty provided by the builder (paid for by builder but provided by a 3rdparty).

We live in Dallas with expansive clay soils. There are two more horizontal but much thinner cracks in the mortar on the other side of the same wall. This wall is about 60 feet wide.

These cracks were fixed (mortar added to cracks) 3years ago by the builder but have become larger and have reappeared.
What is causing these cracks? Is there a foundation issue?

A picture of the crack in thewall can be found here.
Who should I contact – a structural engineer or a foundation repair company?

Any recommendations on whatcan be done are welcome.

You can get an engineer in for maybe the mid 200s and up. Any foundation company will come in and take measurements and will be able to tell you of total movement of the foundation.

That corner has settled as it continued to open that crack. Has it ever closed and reopened. I love the lousy job of patching the builder did. You should not notice a mortar patch if done by a pro

Horizontal crack may very well indicate lack of wall ties as Rick said but the brick is not going th move unless the home moves around. You may well have some drainage issues.

Of course who knows anything for sure looking at a picture online but I can say that your home has been moving around and you need to get a foundation company or an independent engineer in for evaluation. Thee is.no such thing as normal settling to the point of brick and mortar cracks. There is always a reason behind it.

Originally Posted by nitin gupta

We have some cracks in theexterior wall of our 5 year old house that is still under 10 year structuralwarranty provided by the builder (paid for by builder but provided by a 3rdparty).

We live in Dallas with expansive clay soils. There are two more horizontal but much thinner cracks in the mortar on the other side of the same wall. This wall is about 60 feet wide.

These cracks were fixed (mortar added to cracks) 3years ago by the builder but have become larger and have reappeared.
What is causing these cracks? Is there a foundation issue?

A picture of the crack in thewall can be found here.
Who should I contact – a structural engineer or a foundation repair company?

Any recommendations on whatcan be done are welcome.

If that wall is the width of what is shown in the picture then it is cracked all the across the width of the wall and that is bad. It means the bricks above the crack are no longer attached to the bricks below the cracks so filling in the crack on the surface will not help structurally. It also looks like the caulking has cracked on the left side where it meets the wood trim. It looks like the fooundation needs to be stablized and the brickwork repaired so the mortar is removed at least half way through the brick and replaced.

I think everyone is missing the obvious here. Right side of picture, downspout dumping right at the corner the crack is running to. Extend the downspout out, fix the wall either band-aid style or properly.

Originally Posted by Markus Keller

I think everyone is missing the obvious here. Right side of picture, downspout dumping right at the corner the crack is running to. Extend the downspout out, fix the wall either band-aid style or properly.

"You may well have some drainage issues."

"Thee is.no such thing as normal settling to the point of brick and mortar cracks. There is always a reason behind it."