Cracked Brick on Your Home? What It Could Mean
Noticing cracked brick around your home can be alarming, especially when you aren’t sure whether the damage is cosmetic or a sign of foundation movement. Brick and mortar cracks can develop for several reasons, including normal material changes, moisture, soil movement, and foundation settlement. The location, shape, and severity of the cracks can provide important clues about what is happening. If you’ve noticed new, widening, or stair-step cracks on your home’s exterior, call TFS – The Foundation Specialists to schedule a FREE foundation inspection. Our team can evaluate your home, identify potential foundation problems, and recommend a repair solution when necessary.
Why Does Brick Crack?
Brick is durable, but the wall system surrounding it can still be affected by movement. Small cracks don’t automatically mean your home has a serious structural problem.
Some cracks can develop as building materials naturally expand and contract with temperature changes. Others may result from moisture, construction issues, or movement of the soil beneath the foundation.
The concern increases when cracking appears alongside other changes throughout the home. Understanding what the cracks look like and where they’re located can help determine whether it’s time for a professional evaluation.
What Do Stair-Step Cracks in Brick Mean?
One of the most recognizable patterns is a stair-step crack. These cracks typically follow the mortar joints between bricks, creating a pattern that resembles a staircase.
Stair-step cracked brick can sometimes indicate that a section of the foundation has moved or settled. When the foundation shifts, the brick exterior above it may experience stress it wasn’t designed to withstand.
Pay particular attention if the crack:
- Continues to grow or widen
- Extends across a large section of the wall
- Appears near windows or doors
- Is accompanied by separation between bricks and window frames
- Develops alongside other foundation warning signs
A professional foundation inspection can help determine whether settlement is contributing to the damage.
Why Foundation Settlement Happens
The soil beneath your home plays an important role in supporting its foundation. Unfortunately, soil conditions don’t always remain consistent.
Periods of heavy rainfall can saturate soil, while extended dry conditions can cause certain soils to shrink. Poorly compacted fill soil can also settle over time. As conditions beneath the home change, portions of the foundation may begin to move.
When one area settles differently from another, the uneven movement can place additional stress on the structure. Exterior masonry is often one of the places where homeowners first notice visible symptoms.
Other Foundation Problems to Look For
Don’t evaluate exterior cracks in isolation. If foundation movement is occurring, you may notice additional symptoms inside or outside your home.
Watch for:
- Doors and windows that stick
- Cracks in drywall
- Gaps around windows or doors
- Uneven or sloping floors
- Separating trim or molding
- Cracks extending from window or door corners
- Foundation cracks
- Chimneys pulling away from the home
The presence of several symptoms doesn’t automatically confirm a foundation problem, but it is a good reason to have the home professionally evaluated.
Are All Brick Cracks a Foundation Problem?
No. A small crack doesn’t necessarily mean your foundation is failing.
That’s why diagnosing cracked brick based on appearance alone can be difficult. The size, direction, location, and progression of the crack all matter. More importantly, the condition of the foundation and the surrounding structure needs to be considered.
Instead of simply filling a suspicious crack and hoping it doesn’t return, it’s important to determine why it developed.
If foundation movement is the cause, repairing the cosmetic damage without addressing the underlying problem may allow the crack to reappear or worsen.
How Does TFS Repair Foundation Settlement?
When an inspection determines that foundation settlement is contributing to the damage, TFS can recommend a repair plan based on the home’s specific conditions.
Foundation pier systems are one solution that may be used to stabilize a settling foundation. Depending on the home and soil conditions, TFS may recommend push piers or helical piers.
These systems transfer the weight of the affected portion of the home to stronger, more stable soil or load-bearing strata below the problematic soils near the surface. Once installed, the pier system helps provide long-term stabilization and prevent further settlement of the repaired area.
Every home is different, which is why the appropriate repair should be determined through a detailed inspection rather than based solely on visible cracks.
Don’t Ignore Changes in Your Brick
Your home’s exterior can provide valuable warning signs about what’s happening beneath it. While cracked brick doesn’t always indicate serious foundation trouble, stair-step cracks, widening gaps, recurring damage, and cracks accompanied by sticking doors, uneven floors, or other structural symptoms deserve professional attention. TFS – The Foundation Specialists can identify the source of the problem and determine whether foundation repair is necessary. If you’ve noticed suspicious cracks around your home, call TFS today to schedule your FREE foundation inspection and get a customized recommendation for protecting your home.
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