Stair Step Or Stepped Cracks In Concrete Block Walls

Stair step cracks in walls well trained and experienced home inspectors like michael del greco will accurately report any cracks that are found in brick cmu or poured concrete walls even if they do not look like they are going to fail.

Stair step or stepped cracks in concrete block walls.

Sometimes a stair step crack will mostly follow the mortar joints then take a short cut through a defective block or brick before returning to the. Stair step concrete block walls often crack along their block lines. This is fixable in many cases but a professional should inspect it before you repair to ensure that the wall doesn t need to be rebuilt. In most cases you won t have to worry about the minor cracks that appear in your concrete block wall.

This chapter of the foundation crack bible discusses in detail the process of evaluating stair stepped or diagonal cracking and related signs of foundation movement or damage in concrete block walls. Diagonal foundation or wall cracks in concrete block or other cmu walls foundations diagnosis repair. A stair step crack is a diagonal crack but since mortar is usually not as strong as concrete block or brick the crack migrates to the mortar joints as it zigzags along a path of least resistance. Thin cracks can be filled with masonry crack filler or concrete repair caulk and a caulk gun.

Cracks in brick cmu and poured concrete walls that have a pattern to them can be indications of serious structural problems that can be expensive to cure. Consider the size of the crack when determining how to fix concrete steps. Use the gun to force a thick bead of caulk into the crack. Place the blocks on top of the compacted stair tread area making sure to allow for 6 in.

If you notice a stair step crack think of it in the same terms you would a diagonal crack. These types of cracks are a larger concern if they are accompanied by a bulging wall or if the crack measures more than inch wide. To ensure that the blocks will be level with the corresponding wall place a block on the wall as a reference point and level from that block to the block being used for the stair treads. 150 mm of wall rock behind the blocks.

Stair step shape cracks in masonry may signal an underlying issue including the potential for foundation issues. A house that sits on a hillside is more likely to have stair step cracks. The continuous pattern usually follows the grout or cement. Level and adjust as necessary.