Figuring out cracks in brick veneer usually fits one of several possibilities. During my first walk around the exterior of this home, I noticed a fairly typical diagonal crack running from the base of the chimney upward at about a 30 degree angle. When we find such a crack, we usually look for a corresponding crack. In this case I expected to find another crack (or cracks) somewhere along the same side of the house. When the plane of the brick work is broken up by windows, steps in the foundation and areas of different kinds of siding, there are weak points that are likely points of cracking. This first picture shows the location of the crack highlighted in red. Here is a close-up of the area showing the obvious crack. From a distance, there really was not a whole lot jumping out at me to explain this crack. No visible cracks in the foundation----no gaping separations anywhere. One thing is for sure in this scenario: "She'll be comin' round the corner when she comes." As I rounded the corner to the back of the house (to the right in the picture), this is what I saw. “Hecka-crack” So now we have to go back to the side view to help with the explanation. In this picture if we make point “A” stationary and the entire foundation settles along its length to point “B,” it allows all of the brick veneer to move together as a unit without any other cracks forming----except at the pivot point “A.” In this case the crack that develops at point “A” had a corresponding crack on the side of the house around the corner----and in this case it was where the foundation was weakened at the door to the basement. Doorways cut through foundations are a very common “breaking point”----as are windows and step-ups in the foundation. These kinds of corresponding cracks result in not only foundation settlement but tilting of the foundation----as is evidenced in this case by the brick pulling away at the top at point “C.” This is a little unusual because the brick usually stays adhered to the wood framing creating long horizontal cracks more or less parallel to the settling foundation. In older homes, the brick ties that hold the brick to the wood structure pull out of the deteriorating mortar when put under this kind of stress. In this case the whole façade of brick is vulnerable to falling off the side of the home under the right seismic conditions. This more or less patchable crack at point “A” has now become a fairly major structural repair involving stabilizing the foundation and redoing the brick veneer.
Charles Buell
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PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Mr Charles,
This blog is way too complicated for me, it goes right over my head. I would rather think of lemons and warm weather.
Your friend Nutsy
ouch.... that one's going to cost some dollars? I like how easily you explained that -made sense to me! but I agree with Nutsy too...
Nutsy had goes without saying----there is not much that goes over you head better than barbeque sauce.
Valerie---just the tip of the iceberg at this property I am afraid.
Didn't the homeowners ever notice the drafty conditions in the room where the window framing is coming apart?
Dan, because it is the brick pulling away from the house framing there were no gaps on the interior.
Charles, you should see what a real crack looks like here in Texas, that's small frye to comparison what's I come across. Remember everything in Texas is big. LOL
Great post Charles ~ Life is Good
Seriously no cracks on the interior? WOW
"In this case the whole façade of brick is vulnerable to falling off the side of the home under the right seismic conditions."
Really wouldn't want to be near it outside at under any conditions Charles. Just doesn't look at all safe to be near.
Roy what is that old joke about the Texan that was trying to break up a fight between two Alaskans? One of the Alaskans told the Texan to go away or they would split Alaska in two and make Texas the third largest state:)
Tammy, it is a balancing act for sure---and difficult to predict---hence the danger.
GEEZ. How did this ever get to a home inspection? What agent would even write on it???
Lenn, in this case it was the agent that was the prospective buyer and they basically wanted an informed decision as to whether it was fixable or a tear down.
Mr Charles,
I resemble that comment. I am working my little paws off learning more about barbecue and do not appreciate your insults.
Nutsy, very preturbed at Mr Charles
PS -- Would you like lemon with your barbecue?
Charles - great photos and explanantions!
That is one heck of a crack. Just curious if these sellers ever wondered if they had a serious problem with their house or if they were surprised with your findings. Great illustrations.
Thanks Reuben
Jim, Mr Banks probably never lived there to know what condition it was in:)
Very consice explinations. Did you use those pics on your report?
Jim, no---it wasn't necessary. I do often use similiar types of pictures in the report though.
Looks like a lot of homes in the valley after the Sylmar and Northridge quakes. The owners should dump the price and get rid of it to avoid any possible injury liability.
Steve, bricks are not exactly known for doing well in earthquakes----especially older installations.
Charles, good post and great explanation as to what happens when you follow the cracks and look at the mechanics of the situation...
Your building consultant for life in Nashville, TN
Charlie - Lenn already summed up my thoughts and I am glad to see how you replied because it would have been unsettling to find out an agent overlooked something very major.
Thanks Michael----some times it is difficult to find cracks that show up enough to be as good an example as this one was.
Carol, it is surprising what goes un-noticed when the rose colored glasses are in place:)
Charles, i just may need to re-blog your cracked story so my newsletter readers will see this next Thursday. Thanks for keeping me and Nutsy entertained! That Bar-B-Q sounds tasty!
Thanks Lizette, it is a full time job entertaining Nutsy:)
Wow, the comments helped clarify how no one had "noticed" this before, amazing that the homeowner had let it get to this....
Cheryl, I think this kind of "repair" would surpass most people's bugets-----and when you are struggling to make the mortgage payment----wouldn't you rather spring for the big screen TV?
What another nicely illustrated blog with all the outlines, pretty colors, etc. that make me envious. You tried to teach me but I was too dumb slow. We see lots of those settlement cracks here. Just curious....did the sale go through?
Barbara, the last I heard it was going to go through----but as a tear down.
Surely you jest! Why would anyone inspect a tear-down? Why not just raze it already!
Barbara, there can be a huge grey area between what is fixable and what is not---most people, without training cannot tell these things----hence I have a job:)
Charlie - something finally finds its place in the world, and here comes some home inspector to try to point out where it's flawed. Not everything finds out where it is going, and you are being like that foundation if you are less than supportive.
Jay, I know that the crack is just minding its own business----but what is a guy to do?