What Causes Cracks In Walls

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.

What causes cracks in walls.

How to determine if the cracks in walls are serious. Exceeding the design load on the ground. These cracks are serious and require professional attention. Causes of these cracks in masonry walls can be movement of building causing settlement and subsidence.

This causes the drywall to get wet soften and deteriorate which then leads to cracking. New lumber sometimes called green lumber contains a high level. 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. Contents common causes of 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. Small cracks located above interior windows or doors are usually harmless. While the natural movement of building materials surprises many homeowners engineers architects and builders expect and plan for natural settling shrinking and swelling. Leaky windows and roofs can cause moisture to get into your home s walls.

Quite often found in old buildings can lead to the mobility of the soil under the foundation due to heaving or other reasons. The causes of wall cracks. Cracks in the walls of your home could indicate serious foundation issues but that s not always the case. 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.

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. We explore which cracks are cause for concern. Causes of cracks in walls if your home was recently built cracks in walls could be the results of new home settling. Cracks that cause concern are those which run across the length of a ceiling and then continue down a wall along the same line.

Whether cracks occur on the finished surfaces of masonry wood or metal stud walls the most common cause is the movement of building materials. This usually occurs if you want to save money by making the foundation too narrow on the mobile ground.