Why Your Home Has Cracked Bricks and How to Fix the Cause
Have you noticed cracked bricks along the exterior of your home? While some brick cracks develop from normal aging or minor movement, others may indicate foundation settlement. As the soil beneath your home shifts, your foundation can move unevenly, placing stress on your brick walls. Without proper attention, these cracks may grow and lead to more serious structural concerns. At TFS, The Foundation Specialists, we use engineered foundation piers to stabilize settling foundations and help protect homes from further movement. Schedule a free foundation inspection with TFS today to identify the cause of your brick damage and explore your repair options.
What Causes Cracked Bricks on a House?
Brick walls rely on a stable foundation for support. When the soil beneath your home shifts or settles, it can cause sections of your foundation to sink unevenly. This movement creates stress throughout the structure, often resulting in visible cracks along the exterior brickwork.
Several factors can contribute to foundation settlement, including:
- Expansive soil: Soil expands when it absorbs moisture and shrinks during dry conditions, creating movement beneath your foundation.
- Poor soil compaction: Loose or improperly compacted soil can settle over time, causing portions of your foundation to sink.
- Water drainage problems: Excess moisture around your foundation can weaken supporting soil and contribute to settlement.
- Drought conditions: Extended dry periods can cause certain soils to shrink, reducing support beneath your home.
Understanding the cause of foundation movement helps homeowners determine when professional repairs may be necessary.
Signs Your Brick Cracks May Indicate Foundation Problems
Not all brick cracks indicate serious structural damage. However, certain patterns and accompanying symptoms may suggest foundation settlement.
Stair-Step Cracks in Brick
Stair-step cracks follow the mortar joints between bricks, creating a zigzag pattern. These cracks commonly appear when different sections of the foundation settle at different rates.
Horizontal or Vertical Brick Cracks
Horizontal and vertical cracks can develop when structural movement places stress on exterior walls. Large or widening cracks deserve professional attention, especially when homeowners notice additional signs of settlement.
Gaps Around Windows and Doors
Foundation movement can cause gaps between brickwork and window or door frames. Homeowners may also notice doors sticking, windows becoming difficult to open, or uneven spacing around exterior openings.
If you notice cracked bricks alongside these warning signs, a professional foundation inspection can help identify the underlying problem.
How Foundation Piers Repair a Settling Foundation
When foundation settlement causes brick damage, repairing the visible cracks alone won’t address the underlying structural movement.
At TFS, we use foundation piers to support and stabilize settling foundations. These engineered steel systems transfer the weight of your home to deeper, more stable soil or load-bearing strata.
Depending on your home’s structural needs and soil conditions, our specialists may recommend push piers or helical piers.
Push Piers for Foundation Settlement
Push piers use heavy-duty steel sections that our installation crew drives hydraulically into the ground using the structure’s weight as resistance.
Our team advances the piers until they reach suitable load-bearing conditions. We then connect the pier system to the foundation to transfer structural loads and provide long-term support.
Push piers offer several benefits:
- Stabilize settling sections of the foundation.
- Transfer structural loads to deeper supporting layers.
- Help prevent additional settlement-related damage.
- May allow our team to lift portions of the foundation when conditions permit.
Helical Piers for Foundation Support
Helical piers feature steel shafts with spiral-shaped plates. Our installation team rotates these piers into the ground until they reach the required depth and installation resistance.
These engineered piers transfer foundation loads into suitable supporting soil.
Helical piers provide several advantages:
- Support foundations affected by settlement.
- Offer an engineered solution for specific soil and load conditions.
- Require relatively limited excavation at installation points.
- Help stabilize the foundation and reduce the risk of continued settlement.
Our specialists evaluate your home’s condition before selecting the appropriate pier system.
What to Expect During Foundation Pier Installation
At TFS, we follow a detailed installation process to help homeowners understand their foundation repair project.
Step 1: Foundation Inspection
Our specialist examines your home’s brick cracks, foundation movement, and other warning signs to determine whether settlement has occurred.
Step 2: Creating a Repair Plan
Our team evaluates the foundation’s structural needs and develops a pier installation plan based on the affected areas.
Step 3: Installing Foundation Piers
Our installation crew excavates the necessary areas and installs engineered steel piers to the required supporting depth.
Step 4: Stabilizing the Foundation
Once the piers reach suitable load-bearing conditions, our team transfers the foundation’s weight onto the pier system. When appropriate, our crew may also attempt to lift settled sections.
Step 5: Completing the Installation
Our crew secures the pier system, backfills the excavated areas, and cleans the worksite.
Although foundation piers stabilize the underlying structure, homeowners may still need separate masonry repairs to restore the appearance of existing brick cracks.
Why Choose TFS for Foundation Repair?
At TFS, The Foundation Specialists, we understand how concerning foundation settlement can feel for homeowners. Our team works to identify the underlying cause of structural movement and recommend a solution that fits your home’s needs.
We use engineered foundation pier systems to address settlement and provide dependable structural support.
Whether you’ve noticed stair-step cracks, separating brickwork, or other signs of foundation movement, our specialists can help you understand your options.
Schedule a Free Foundation Inspection With TFS
Cracked bricks may be more than a cosmetic issue. When foundation settlement causes exterior brick damage, addressing the underlying movement can help prevent additional structural problems and costly repairs. At TFS, The Foundation Specialists, we use push piers and helical piers to stabilize settling foundations and help homeowners protect their investments. Our team proudly serves homeowners throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana. Contact TFS today to schedule your free foundation inspection and learn how our foundation pier solutions can help restore stability to your home.