What it Means When You Have a Cracked Brick Wall

What a Cracked Brick Wall Indicates For Your Home

Brick homes and foundations are quite common in the Carolinas. Do you have a brick home, foundation, or chimney? Then this pertains to you! It is important to check your walls, foundation, and chimney often for cracks and bulging, as this may be a sign of foundation issues that need to be addressed by a foundation repair specialist. If you find a cracked brick wall or another area of concern, then Tarheel Foundation Solutions can help.

What Causes Cracks in Brick?

There are several different reasons that lead to cracks in brick and mortar structures including:

• Soil shrinkage
• Foundation settlement
• Soil erosion
• Soil compaction
• Excess moisture and soil pressure
• Soil settlement

Any of the causes above may not be noticed until over time they affect your brick home and gradually (or sometimes unexpectedly) cause cracks to form leading to a potentially more serious issue.

What Are the Different Types of Cracks?

When inspecting your home you should be on the lookout for these types of cracks, as they are a cause for concern:

• Vertical cracks- often caused by soil shrinkage.
• Stair-step cracks- a common sign of settlement.
• Horizontal cracks- also caused by settlement, likely due to erosion, soil shrinkage, or soil compaction. 
• Compaction- when the bricks “smash” together, this likely is an indicator of foundation problems.
• Bulging Walls- is usually a result of excess moisture and soil pressure.

What Can Be Done For Cracked Brick Walls?

We offer helical piers as well as tiebacks and soil nails. Helical piers are like large steel stilts that are screwed into the ground under the foundation to lift settling slabs. For shifting foundations causing bulging foundation walls and brick movement, we offer helical tiebacks and soil nails, which pull the foundation into place for more stability. We can also install Rhino carbon fiber to strengthen and straighten foundation walls from the inside.

In addition, we offer brick repointing, which a process where every brick joint has the mortar replaced which strengthens and stabilizes while making the brick look new again.

If needed, Tarheel Foundation Solutions can implement drain control around the foundation of your brick home. This will keep your foundation from being exposed to excessive moisture and protect it for the future.

The Best in Foundation Solution Products

Rest assured, Tarheel Foundation Solutions uses the best foundation solution products available on the market today. We commonly use products by ECP (Earth Contact Products). These products are known for their reliability and strength in solving whatever your specific problem may be. To learn more about how Tarheel Foundation Solutions can help you with your brick home, foundation, or chimney contact us today!