Crack brick wall, but not foundation

**Eli Smith** · 05-02-2012, 07:50 PM

Hello,

I was inspecting a multiplex year 1990 with 6 unites.
I noticed a crack on the brick wall. I couldn't see the foundation (ground level was too high).
I then told my client that the crack could be sign of a movement coming from the footing.
My client is a general contractor and he immediately called a guy and 15 minutes later (no joke) a hole was dogged under the crack.
There was no crack on the foundation. Nothing. (see second picture)
I wanted to know if this means the foundation is safe despite the crack on the brick wall or could there still be a problem with the foundation even if there was no crack on it?
If the crack on the brick wall has nothing to do with the foundation, any theory, else then a truck hitting the brick wall or water causing the joints to crack, on what could have done this?

thanks

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**John Kogel** · 05-02-2012, 08:26 PM

1990 multiplex in Quebec. Is that brick veneer? If moisture got behind the brick, freeze and thaw could have caused the cracks.
I would check anywhere that water can get in.

Garry Blankenship · 05-02-2012, 09:01 PM

How high does it go ? Are there any more ? Veneer or structural ? Not a good thing any way you slice it. Defer to an unretired Watson.

**Raymond Wand** · 05-03-2012, 04:16 AM

I am with John on this one.

Is the walkway sloped towards that corner?

Is there a downspout discharging water near this corner?

Stephen G · 05-03-2012, 08:01 AM

If thats the laneway to the right of pic one. My WAG is the moving truck or cement truck drove real close creating a way to much ground pressure at the corner.
The you get what we see in the pretty pics...send more pics

**Peter Louis** · 05-03-2012, 08:40 AM

If this is a structural wall, it is more serious. If a veneer, that could be the result of frame shrinkage & brick expansion.

**Kristi Silber** · 05-03-2012, 08:38 PM

Looks like veneer, and I wonder how well that right edge is supported. Kinda looks like it's hanging over the edge of the foundation a bit. Maybe it's just one of the photos that makes it look that way.

**Franz Bailey** · 05-04-2012, 03:01 AM

Are there any expansion or control joints in any of the walls?

**Lon Henderson** · 05-04-2012, 06:41 AM

Years ago, a six year old kid decided to take his dad's car for a drive.......into the side of my house. The brick was undamaged but the mortar was badly cracked.
(when I got outside, the kid was in the passenger seat with his seatbelt on. The car was still in gear just pushing against the house. kinda funny in hindsight)

So, the explanation may be as simple as a vehicle smacking the corner.

**Franz Bailey** · 05-04-2012, 09:01 AM

Here is a good resource from The Brick Industry Association

http://www.gobrick.com/Home/tabid/7604/Default.aspx

Technical Notes on Brick Construction: 18 and 18A may shedmore light on this topic.

http://www.gobrick.com/TechnicalNotes/LinkstoTechnicalNotes/tabid/11294/Default.aspx

**Randy Mayo** · 05-04-2012, 04:12 PM

Eli

If that is one long continuous brick wall I would initially agree with Peter... thermal movement. The linear thermal expansion of brick veneer is 0.0000031 inches/inch of wall/degree of temperature change. A 60 foot straight wall will expand or contract from the center to the outer edge or 30 foot in each direction. If the brick was laid at 60° F and the current surface temperature is 120° F on a hot summer day, that is a 60° F change. Doing the math the expansion is 0.0000031 x 60 x (30 x 12) = 0.067 inches or approximately 1/16" of movement at both ends.