Stepped cracking in brickwork

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mattwnz

20147 posts

Uber Geek

#2755325 5-Aug-2021 00:53

heavenlywild: Do you have photos to share?

I have an interest in real estate, especially new builds, and have not come across cracking.

Would be great to see some images.

Here are a few images.

This shows thin diagonal stepped cracking from soffit on the top left, and down to the bottom right of the image

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/df0c9dfa24e931e8f9a8fdc3698f0c80.jpg

This is a previous repair for probably about 3 years old with the same sort of diagonal step pattern from meter box up to soffit.

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/575256c1376f806965954197a693e193.jpg

The bricklayers have said when they do a repair, they grind out the old grout and then insert the new grout.

Bung

6478 posts

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Subscriber

#2755342 5-Aug-2021 07:01

Apparently masonry bricks tend to shrink. Control joints are recommended.
http://www.bbfnz.co.nz/bricks-and-blocks/masonry-brick-veneer-best-practice-guide/control-joints/

If the choíce of brick was left to 1st owner I wouldn't be surprised if detail changes to design didn't get done.

Fred99

13684 posts

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#2755396 5-Aug-2021 07:46

Could be a bit of thermal movement exacerbated by having bricks that dark colour too.

Bricks are a relatively cheap cladding system, so long as the foundation is sound and it's single story, a full like for like reclad should only cost a few tens of thousand of $. OTOH if the foundation is stuffed, worst case scenario could be a a few hundreds of thousands of $.

mattwnz

20147 posts

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#2755807 5-Aug-2021 17:30

Bung: Apparently masonry bricks tend to shrink. Control joints are recommended.
http://www.bbfnz.co.nz/bricks-and-blocks/masonry-brick-veneer-best-practice-guide/control-joints/

If the choíce of brick was left to 1st owner I wouldn't be surprised if detail changes to design didn't get done.

One concrete veneer brick manufacturer I contacted has diagrams showing where the control joints should be, which is usually alongside windows in a vertical zig zag line. But there is no way of telling if they have been done as they are all mortered, rather than using flexible sealant along the control joints. But the cracking hasn't occured where those control joints are. That may just be bad luck as controlling where cracks will appear may not be that easy.

mclean

581 posts

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#2755822 5-Aug-2021 17:48

Don't get too side-tracked by the apparent lack of control joints. That may, or may not, be the problem.

heavenlywild

5060 posts

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#2755833 5-Aug-2021 18:06

Are there any other cracks around and inside the house? What about the concrete footpath by the house?

The settling process does take time. In my new home I noticed a few cracks here and there internally but nothing major.

I don't think it's a major problem. If the bricks themselves start to crack then I would be worried.

mattwnz

20147 posts

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#2755835 5-Aug-2021 18:39

heavenlywild: Are there any other cracks around and inside the house? What about the concrete footpath by the house?

The settling process does take time. In my new home I noticed a few cracks here and there internally but nothing major.

I don't think it's a major problem. If the bricks themselves start to crack then I would be worried.

A little bit around wall and ceiling junctions, and a few popped wall fixings, but within what I would expect. One door is bindlng at the top of the frame as it closes but it may have always been the case and could just be workmanship. All exterior paths and drives are fine without gaps or signs of movement. There is nothing else of concern. It is really just the mortar cracks, which is at least partially explained due to it being concrete brick, rather than fire clay type bricks which I understand are more stable.

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heavenlywild

5060 posts

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#2755840 5-Aug-2021 19:02

Are the step cracks appearing right around the house or just on one side of the house?

heavenlywild

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#2755841 5-Aug-2021 19:06

When you mentioned some cracks around the internal ceiling area, is that on the same side where the step cracks are appearing too?

mattwnz

20147 posts

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#2755902 5-Aug-2021 22:27

heavenlywild: Are the step cracks appearing right around the house or just on one side of the house?

It is almost all on one side of the house, which also happens to be the longest brick wall. There is no stepped cracking anywhere else that I could see, just the odd bit of isolated grout cracking. I only did a brief look inside when looking and some was down that same side but without having a far better inspection I couldn't say for sure.

heavenlywild

5060 posts

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#2755903 5-Aug-2021 22:28

OK, best to have a good look inside if you can.

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