Causes Of Vertical Cracks In Concrete Walls

The cause of the crack how harmful the crack is and how best to repair it if repair is deemed necessary.

Causes of vertical cracks in concrete walls.

The causes of vertical cracks are usually traced to vertical dislocation of the foundation footing or entire wall. Stair step cracks may also signify heaving. Vertical cracks in a foundation wall wider at bottom than top usually due to settlement under building occasionally due to frost heave at a point. The location and pattern of cracks are the most important factors in de termining their cause.

If your wall cracks appear following construction in your area you should seek an urgent assessment of the cracks and legal advice. Removal of windows or doors with inadequate propping inadequate bearings loads applied directly over the opening no lintels. In the drawings shown here the causes of typical cracks in concrete walls are explained based on the location and pattern of the cracks. Four causes of cracks above openings in masonry walls are.

These cracks may be less serious than horizontal when found in a masonry block wall. The near vertical cracking could be caused by settlement heaving or soil subsidence due to tree roots but most often a vertical crack is due to thermal expansion and contraction of a long wall. Interior cracks in concrete block walls can form for a number of reasons including. The cracks in your walls form for a reason.

The use of heavy machinery vibration excessive mechanical compaction of the soil or blasting the use of explosives to excavate can all cause your walls to crack. Vertical cracks are rare in a concrete block or brick wall because the mortar is usually weaker structurally and the crack will zig zag along the mortar joints only occasionally fracturing directly through the brick or block as it continues along. If a vertical crack widens at the top or bottom the wall is either settling or gradually heaving which may present serious issues.