Found a crack in bricks and foundation. Is it serious?
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Found a crack in bricks and foundation. Is it serious?
Hi everyone,
I was weed-eating around the house last week and uncovered a crack in the bricks and foundation that concerns me (mostly because I know very little about these types of cracks, and what's serious, etc). I have a couple images of the crack below for your reference.
Can any of you comment on this type of crack and whether or not it's serious. Also, what repairs (if any) should be done?
Please let me know if you need any information that I haven't given. Thanks, all!
A little background that may help:
-The house is roughly 15 years old, and is on a slab.
-This crack is roughly midway along the right side of the house.
-The crack seems to go from the ground to the siding vertically (see pictures)
-I walked around the house and did not see any brick damage at any other location.
-There is very little indication of settling inside the house (no crown molding mis-match, wall cracks, etc)
-There's no obvious bulging of the bricks/wall at the crack location
Pictures of the crack:
I was weed-eating around the house last week and uncovered a crack in the bricks and foundation that concerns me (mostly because I know very little about these types of cracks, and what's serious, etc). I have a couple images of the crack below for your reference.
Can any of you comment on this type of crack and whether or not it's serious. Also, what repairs (if any) should be done?
Please let me know if you need any information that I haven't given. Thanks, all!
A little background that may help:
-The house is roughly 15 years old, and is on a slab.
-This crack is roughly midway along the right side of the house.
-The crack seems to go from the ground to the siding vertically (see pictures)
-I walked around the house and did not see any brick damage at any other location.
-There is very little indication of settling inside the house (no crown molding mis-match, wall cracks, etc)
-There's no obvious bulging of the bricks/wall at the crack location
Pictures of the crack:
#2
Welcome to the forums! You say the house is on a slab. Is the slab elevated above grade as indicated in your pictures? Is there a crawlspace? Have you (or can you ) noticed any cracks in the slab itself near this location?
Often cracks appear in brick veneer and are not that serious. When the crack goes across the brick rather than following the mortar joint, it can mean a sudden shift in the foundation. In either instance, if this is below the living area and you notice no other shifting in the interior of the house, I would monitor it and seal it with an elastomeric sealant that will move with the seasons and not tend to crack. It is available in colors. I would use a mortar colored one for the mortar cracks and a redder one for the brick cracks.
Often cracks appear in brick veneer and are not that serious. When the crack goes across the brick rather than following the mortar joint, it can mean a sudden shift in the foundation. In either instance, if this is below the living area and you notice no other shifting in the interior of the house, I would monitor it and seal it with an elastomeric sealant that will move with the seasons and not tend to crack. It is available in colors. I would use a mortar colored one for the mortar cracks and a redder one for the brick cracks.
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On the one hand, that doesn't look like a settlement crack. It's fairly even in width top- to-bottom, and has occurred at the middle of the wall. These are typical symptoms of a strong mortar and soft bricks. On their own, nothing to worry about; at 8 years old, mortar shrinkage will have stopped by now.
On the other hand, is that the slab at the bottom of the first pic? and is that a crack in the slab which is in line with the brick crack? If it is, maybe worth getting someone to take a look, just incase there is an underlying problem.
On the other hand, is that the slab at the bottom of the first pic? and is that a crack in the slab which is in line with the brick crack? If it is, maybe worth getting someone to take a look, just incase there is an underlying problem.