Understanding Wall Cracks: From Cosmetic to Structural

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No one likes to see cracks in their walls. Not only do they detract from the home's aesthetic appeal, but they also are a constant reminder that there might be something deeper wrong with your home.

Wall cracks should be taken seriously because some are signs of serious structural problems with your home. Others, however, are purely cosmetic and should be treated as such.

The key is telling which cracks are dire and which are mostly harmless. To do this, there are several questions you should ask:

How Big is the Wall Crack?

This is perhaps the biggest question. Small hairline cracks are rarely structural in nature. They have a number of potentially benign causes.

• Minor settlement, often immediately after the structure was built. If the settlement remains minor and the crack does not grow, this is not a serious structural problem.
• Material shrinkage can often affect concrete or plaster walls, causing hairline cracks.
• Humidity and temperature changes can cause minor cracks in drywall, plaster or even concrete walls.

In none of the cases is the crack a serious structural issue. You still might want to have them repaired, either for aesthetic reasons or to prevent issues like water intrusion in basement walls, but the repairs can generally stop at the crack itself.

Larger cracks (more than 1/16th of an inch), however, are more likely to be structural, especially if one side of the crack is raised higher than the other.

What Direction Does the Crack Run?

Different directions of cracks have different potential causes and levels of seriousness. Here are some examples.

Vertical Wall Cracks

Vertical cracks are perhaps the most common and generally seen as the least troubling. Wider vertical cracks should still be examined, however, especially if the crack either gets wider or narrower as it moves up the wall, as these can be signs of significant differential settlement.

Diagonal or Stair Step Cracks

Stair Step cracks are common in masonry (brick or block) walls, as they traveled generally diagonally in a stair step pattern along the mortar lines. These cracks are most likely caused by foundation settlement and movement, especially when they are larger than just a hairline crack.

These can indicate a troubling degree of settlement, with the stresses that the differential settlement causes on the wall causing them to crack. There is a chance that these cracks are a sign of foundation problems or failure.

Horizontal Cracks

These are generally considered to be the most serious types of cracks. While the potential causes vary by location, horizontal cracks are often a sign of serious structural problems with the wall, especially if it is accompanied by bowing.

One exception is if the mortar is cracking in a masonry wall. There is a chance that the wall needs to be repointed to replace the mortar. A professional should be able to tell you which is to blame.

Where is the Crack?

There are certain places where cracks are most common. Diagonal cracks will often emanate from doorways or window frames, for instance, because those are the weak points in the wall and the first to be affected when stressed by settlement.

This really comes into play, however, with horizontal cracks.

Horizontal cracks in basement walls are often caused by pressure from the soil outside (usually because of the water inside the soil) pushing in on the wall until it begins to crack and bow.

If not repaired, these can eventually lead to the collapse of the wall.

If the horizontal crack is in an above-ground wall, however, other issues are obviously at play, whether it be overloading or structural weakness in the wall itself.

Is the Crack Growing

Most cracks start small, so even hairline cracks should be monitored carefully to see if they remain hairline cracks. If the crack is growing, that indicates an ongoing issue that could be structural in nature.

Wall Crack Repair Options

Repairing the crack itself will depend on the material the wall is made from. In many cases, the more pressing issue is fixing the problem causing the crack in the first place, especially if it is structural in nature. The structural causes of wall cracks can often be permanently repaired by our foundation repair experts in Nebraska and Iowa. At Jerry's Waterproofing, we use the latest products by Earth Contact Products (ECP). ECP is the leading manufacturer in underpinning.

We can install steel push piers or helical piers to re-level your foundation and prevent further settlement issues.

If the issue is a horizontal crack in a bowing basement wall, we can stabilize it using helical tiebacks, plate anchors or carbon fiber strips.

Wondering If Your Wall Crack Is Structural? Contact Jerry's Waterproofing

Jerry's Waterproofing will find the cause of wall cracks and find the best foundation repair solution. We'll take care of all your wall crack repair needs in Nebraska and Iowa. We provide free estimates, so contact us today to schedule an appointment.