How to Deal With Cracked Bricks In House
When you notice that your beautiful brick home has developed cracks, it’s natural to worry. Some of these cracks are cosmetic, and others may indicate serious structural problems. The good news is that you can take steps to slow the process, and there are even ways to completely reverse it if you catch the problem early enough.
The first step is to take a thorough walk-around of your brick structure and note the cracks that are present. Look for cracked bricks in house that affect only a single brick, as well as those that stretch across multiple bricks and mortar seams. You’ll also want to see if the cracks extend down into your basement and into other parts of your house.
If the cracks are narrow and only affect the mortar between the bricks, you can usually get away with just caulking or repairing them. However, if the cracks are deeper or extending into the walls or foundation of your home, it’s time to consult a professional and consider other options like brick replacement.
Brick is a very porous material, and as such it can absorb water from precipitation. When this happens, it can damage the mortar and brick and cause the walls to start cracking. This is a concern for any type of wall, but especially for load-bearing walls. Cracking walls can let in insects and pests, which can also have an impact on the overall health of your home.
Another common cause of cracks in brick is ground movement, which is known as subsidence. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as tree roots growing beneath a foundation or heavy rainfall causing soil erosion. If the cracks in a brick wall are due to subsidence, it’s important to have them repaired as soon as possible so they don’t worsen.
When a crack appears in a brick wall, it’s often caused by a change in temperature or moisture exposure. This can cause the brick to expand or shrink, which leads to a separation in the mortar between the bricks. This can be caused by weather changes, such as hotter temperatures or a sudden increase in humidity. This can also happen when trees are planted too close to a foundation and their roots start to grow underneath the concrete, causing the foundation to sink or settle unevenly.
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