Any crack in your property can be alarming but the good news is that not all cracks are an issue. It’s important to understand which a Visible Crack can represent an issue for your home and which are simply cosmetic.
If you have any doubts regarding the seriousness of a crack then you should contact
a reputable building consultant Sydney and have a Visible Crack assessed properly.
It’s worth noting there are three main types of wall crack.
- Interior walls
- Exterior walls
- Foundation walls
Depending on how your house has been built and the access available, the foundation walls may be harder to check. But, interior and exterior wall cracks can be seen simply by visually inspecting your property every month. A quick walk around the building will tell you if there are any new cracks.
What To Check On Your Crack
If you discover a wall crack on your property then you need to consider where the crack is. It is also important to look at whether the crack is vertical, horizontal, or jagged. Alongside this, you may be able to tell if the wall material is separating from the frame of your house.
You’ll then want to know what has caused the crack and whether it is likely to get worse or not.
The most serious cracks are jagged ones. These are effectively moving through the mortar line and separating bricks. In most cases, this can suggest that part of the structure is pulling away from the rest, most likely because the building is suffering from subsidence.
Jagged cracks are the most concerning, likely to get worse, and need urgent assessment and repairs undertaken.
In short, a jagged crack should be alarming.
Vertical and horizontal cracks can be an issue but they are less likely to be. In many cases, this is simply movement in the wall materials. The only time you should be alarmed about these types of cracks is if they are deep and you can see material separating from the main structure. Of course, if you can see through a crack it needs urgent attention.
Most Common Causes Of Wall Cracks
There are several reasons why you may have wall cracks.
- Subsidence
Subsidence means that part of the ground under your foundation has settled more than the rest. This creates uneven pressure on the structure and weakens it, allowing part of the walls to drop lower than the rest of the house. The drop may not be noticeable but the pressure will create cracks in your walls.
- Poor design/Construction
If the property hasn’t been designed properly and can’t support its own weight, or it is badly constructed then cracks are simply a sign of this. They are still serious and need to be dealt with.
- Water Damage
Excess water in the foundations can cause the earth under the foundations to move and this will allow parts of the structure to drop, creating cracks and potentially a dangerous issue.
Excess water can be caused by bad drainage, a consistent leak, or even blocked gutters that have been left.
In all cases, it’s a good idea to get some professional help.