No one wants cracks in their walls. They can make a home look a bit run down and they most certainly aren’t going to fix themselves in time. The more important question, however, is when do wall cracks stop being annoyances that your want to conceal and start being potential signs of structural damage that you must investigate?
There is no hard and fast rule saying A and B always indicate a problem while C and D are never structural concerns. That is why it is important to have an expert make the final determination when it comes to whether foundation repairs are needed.
Several general guidelines do exist, however, that can at least lead you in the right direction.
What Direction is the Wall Crack running?
Different directions of wall cracks generally signal different causes.
- Vertical Wall Cracks: Although vertical cracks can be caused by settlement issues, these are generally the least concerning of the types of wall cracks. That is not to say they are always insignificant, however. Along with the other variables we will cover below, watch for areas with multiple vertical cracks in the same section of wall. That can be a signal the cracks are not as harmless as they appear.
- Horizontal Cracks: First, the good news. There is a good chance that foundation settlement is not causing the cracks. Now the bad news. These are potentially the most serious of the directions of wall cracks and often indicate significant structural issues. When these cracks appear in sub-grade basement walls, they are usually caused by hydrostatic pressure from water next to the foundation pushing in on the walls. The wall might have to be stabilized depending on how series the damage is, and an exterior waterproofing system could be added to drain the water away from the foundation and prevent the issues of occurring again.
- Diagonal cracks: While cracks running diagonally on a wall aren't always a sign of settlement-related foundation problems, it is a common enough cause of them that you should get them checked out by a foundation professional. When uneven settlement occurs, with some portions of the home receiving more support from the underlying soil than others, a diagonal crack is often the result. This includes diagonal cracks eminating from windows or doorframes.
- Stairstep cracks: These cracks share many characteristics, and causes, with diagonal cracks. The difference is that they occur in brick or block walls, so the cracks appear in the mortar between the bricks and the blocks. This leads to them having a stairstep pattern as the travel diagonally along the wall. Similar to diagonal cracks, these are often a sign of settlement-related issues and should be examined by a foundation professional.
How wide is the crack?
To some degree, the rule with wall cracks is, the wider they are, the more likely that they indicate a serious problem.
Hairline cracks, often defined as a millimeter or less in width, are generally not structural in nature and not a significant issue so long as they stay hairline width.
Once they get wider, they both become a potential sign of structural issues and, especially if it is in a basement wall, a place where water could get access.
They can also be an access point for insects and other pests.
Is the Wall Crack Growing?
Another potential sign of ongoing structural issues are if the crack is getting bigger.
This going for both length and width.
The fact that the crack is growing means that whatever stresses are causing the crack are still ongoing or that they have weakened the wall itself.
That is why wall cracks should not be ignored even if they don’t appear to be a serious issue at first.
If you are worried that a crack is growing, one possible way to monitor it is to take photographs with a specific reference point.
Concerned About Wall Cracks in Your Oklahoma Home? Contact Pierman
If you have wall cracks that you suspect might be a sign of foundation problems, it is important to have them examined by a professional. If you live in our Oklahoma service area contact Pierman for a free foundation estimate.
