Brick Cracks
When cracks begin to form on the exterior walls of a home, this can be an early warning sign of foundation issues and the need for foundation repair. While there are ways to temporarily fix these cracks, the larger foundation issues will worsen due to the foundation’s direct relation to the soil around and below the home.
The exterior walls of a home are supported by many materials. Concrete blocks and slabs support the walls and sit on the soil under the ground. As the soil settles under a home, the home’s exterior walls also settle and rotate, causing dangerous shifts in the entire home. Additionally, cracks may appear in the brickwork itself, in the concrete walls or in any of the blocks. These cracks and lines occur because of the rotation of walls and the pressure on other supporting joints in the home. While the cracks may begin small, they rapidly expand, threatening the home’s framework.
Common Causes of Brick Cracks
- Soil Expansion/Contraction
- New Home Settlement
- Weather Events
- Changes in Temperature
- Faulty House Drainage
Cracks in the brickwork of a home can occur at any time. At any stage of a home's life, the home may settle with the soil below. Poor drainage, tree roots and floods are just a few of the factors which can cause the foundation soil to settle further, regardless of the age of your home.
Filling cracks is a temporary solution to a potentially permanent problem. In order for your crack issues to be permanently fixed, your brickwork's sealer and filler must be dug out and removed prior to permanent repair. Although hiring rebuilders to rebuild exterior problems may seem like an effective temporary solution, the larger problems will likely return, particularly if the cracks are related to the soil underneath your home. While repairs to walls and exterior brickwork is a good idea, the base of the home must be fixed first.
Contact Atlas today to schedule a free estimate.
