Types of cracked brick walls and what they mean to you

Cracks in bricks are not normal, and often require more than a little cosmetic masonry work.

Sometimes cracked brick points to rusting support beams. Other times, they point to a sinking foundation. These are not small fixes and should be only handled by professionals.

At Helitech Waterproofing & Foundation Repair, we specialize in saving foundations from complete failure. Sometimes this means helical piling to lift the settling foundation back up. Other times, it means treating oxide jacking—the result of corroded support beams pushing brick walls outward—at its source.

Whatever your foundation repair needs, we will treat the root of the problem, giving you peace of mind that your home is structurally sound.

Cracked brick walls point to underlying structural damage.

Fix the damage at its source. Call in the professionals.

Request A Free Quote

Causes, Repairs and Implications of Different Types of Cracked Brick

Type of Cracked Brick	Possible Cause and Repair
Horizontal crack in brick wall	If the cracked brick is at the top of the house near the steel beam, it could be due to oxide jacking—or the pressure that builds up as the steel rusts. This is common in brick walls because brick is porous, allowing moisture to pass through and corrode the steel. Left unattended, the corroded steel beam will force the bricks completely out of place. Horizontal cracks in brick walls closer lower in the wall or where the brick meets the concrete foundation indicates structural damage caused by settling. In this case, serious repair may be required.
Stair step cracks in brick house	Stair step cracks in brick houses are typically due to uneven settling of your foundation. Because this is a form of structural damage, it’s important that you call a Helitech professional early to repair the problem at its source.
Vertical cracking near wall seams (interior)	Vertical cracking on inside corners is often due to brick expansion. As bricks are exposed to environmental humidity, they grow in size, which can cause cracks at the seams of the walls. This type of crack usually means the bricklayers who built the wall did not provide enough space between the bricks to provide for thermal expansion.
Vertical cracking near wall seams (exterior)	Vertical cracking on outside corners—where steel beams—is usually a result of oxide jacking, or ”rust burst.” Left unattended, the corroded steel support beam will push the bricks outward until they eventually fall off the wall altogether.

We’ll give you, the homeowner, a free quote for your foundation repair.

We’ll get back to you with a cost-effective solution.

Fill out the form

Outstanding

JWGC+CG Washington Park, IL, USA

Chad and Jared were great to work with and they did a quality job with no mess.

Brochures

Download, print, or save one of our many product and installation brochures so you can learn more about our company, our available products and services, and the steps taken to heal your home.

View Brochures

Maintenance Guides

Our Homeowner Maintenance Checklist will serve as your plan for regular maintenance – particularly as it relates to foundation issues, concrete settlement, and structural repair. It is intended to be used all-year round and will help you ensure your home is healthy and protected through every month and season.

Download the Guide

Video Library

With our installation and product videos, you will be able to better understand our processes and visualize the installation so you can have a higher level of comfort in trust with us to heal your home.

View Videos

Foundation Piering Case Studies