While the natural movement of building materials surprises many homeowners engineers architects and builders expect and plan for natural settling shrinking and swelling.
What causes cracks in walls.
Leaky windows and roofs can cause moisture to get into your home s walls.
This usually occurs if you want to save money by making the foundation too narrow on the mobile ground.
How to determine if the cracks in walls are serious.
New lumber sometimes called green lumber contains a high level.
We explore which cracks are cause for concern.
The causes of wall cracks.
There s no exact method for determining how serious a wall crack is without hiring an expert to examine the wall but you might be able to.
Other horizontal cracks in walls may be caused by the pressure of a failing wall or indicative of load bearing problems and are a safety concern.
This is a sign of structural damage usually related to a weak wall.
If the cracks in your walls are showing discoloration such as brown or yellow tinted stains then the problem may be the result of water damage to your home.
Contents common causes of cracks.
Causes of these cracks in masonry walls can be movement of building causing settlement and subsidence.
Cracks that cause concern are those which run across the length of a ceiling and then continue down a wall along the same line.
Causes of cracks in walls small insufficient depth of foundation.
Exceeding the design load on the ground.
Tracking down the cause or causes of wall cracks is the first step in making any assessment as to the seriousness and cost of repairing wall cracks.
This causes the drywall to get wet soften and deteriorate which then leads to cracking.
Small cracks located above interior windows or doors are usually harmless.
Several types of cracks occur in masonry walls in a building which can be minor and insignificant some requiring expensive repairs and in some extreme cases the only solution is total demolition of the wall.
Quite often found in old buildings can lead to the mobility of the soil under the foundation due to heaving or other reasons.
These cracks are serious and require professional attention.
Whether cracks occur on the finished surfaces of masonry wood or metal stud walls the most common cause is the movement of building materials.
