To repair the crack, caulk it then apply an elastomeric. Step 11 scratch 18 inch deep horizontal grooves into the base coat with a raking tool once the stucco has become thumbprint hard. 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. In some areas the cracks only follow the horizontal wires in the mesh, but in other areas the cracks are forming along both the horizontal and. Repairing the stucco on the outside of the house the gold hive. Jan 17, 2016 step cracks showing on stucco go through to the other side of the cinder block. Although not all cracks are objectionable, cracks in stucco acceptable to one person might be unacceptable to another person. Cracks that appear within the first 30 days after installation and are larger than 116 the thick. Aug 15, 2017 hairline cracks are arguably the most common type of stucco crack. Over the last few years, stucco has become a top exterior finish choice for housing giants.
Shrinkage cracks are very narrow usually less than. The caulk gives the patch some flexibility, so it will not recrack. But given the first picture of the cracked foundation wall, and given that the brick is on the same side of the house as the foundation wall, its probably not just minor settling. The base coat of stucco is often referred to as a scratch layer. These cracks are typically noticed in the mortar joints of brick walls. Read about how cracks occur in 3coat stucco systems and some of the. Heres a quick guide on how to repair stucco cracks and what not to do that will help you fix the cracks without causing even bigger problems. Aug 17, 2009 there are stucco cracks all over the house. Multiple hairline cracks in stucco home inspection. This promotes water intrusion, bugs and costly repairs. Water will help move the caulk around, make it squeeze into the crack and will allow you to wipe off the excess a lot easier. Based on my personal experience over the past 32 years of inspecting houses, i would say that differential brick expansion is the most common cause of cracking in brick veneer homes. Cracking in a stucco walls, stucco shrinkage cracks youtube. Step cracks in wall florida exterior inspections internachi.
Vertical movement in a concrete block or brick wall might appear as either vertical cracks but more often as step cracks in which the crack pattern follows the mortar joints between the masonry units in a stair stepping pattern. At most places cracks starts from either the window or patiodoors top or bottom. The same stairstep cracking pattern can often be found on the interior side of the wall in the basement or crawl space. Howto repair a crack on exterior stucco surface behr. Apr 19, 2014 the first two pictures show cracks thicker than hairline and the third shows some stairstep cracking and possibly even a vertical crack. Cracks in concrete block wall pro construction forum. Stair step cracks in walls catch home inspectors attention. The major one is stucco layer is loose around one of the windows, which is causing water to go in the wall. This layer contains the color, so the color is actually mixed into the stucco.
If high temperatures threaten to dry the stucco too quickly and cause cracks, mist the stucco with. The first two pictures show cracks thicker than hairline and the third shows some stairstep cracking and possibly even a vertical crack. They ranged any where from 45 feet long to the length of my garage wall 16 plus feet between the front windows. Identifying types of cinder block foundation damage stairstep mortar joint cracks. Specifically, whats the best way to avoid cracking. Found at or close to the corners of the home, wing walls and quoin corners they are common and easy to perform a masonry crack repair on. Crack patterns can reflect types of foundation issues uss. We often get conflicting information from subs about certain stucco details. First, you will want to wet down the wall where the crack is and around the area of the crack. Jul 23, 2008 small cracks that are less than 116 inch are common and can be easily repaired with minor filling and repainting, if needed. Unless you know how the stucco was mixed and applied, it can be hard to hide a crack. Settlement cracks these common masonry cracks usually manifest as a stair step crack or a crack that steps up as it moves horizontally across the wall.
To match this walls original dash finish, disilva scooped small globs of wet mix onto his brick. Wisecracks are a series of collectors edition prints of home defects that weve accumulated over the years. This level of maintenance is to be expected with all stucco homes. Every stucco crack has its own pattern, and the nature of cracking discloses the probably reason for its development. Scratch is always horizontal scratched with a scarifying toolnot a brush. This kind of stucco crack is about 116 of an inch wide. Step mix and apply another 38 inch layer of base coat stucco directly to the scratch coat. I had a big crack at the stairs that i wanted to reinforce while i was at it. This, along with the upcoming damage types, are primarily cause by external lateral soil pressure due to excess moisture or compromised foundation footing. Stairstep cracks a stairstep crack looks like a flight of stairs and runs in both vertical and horizontal directions across the wall.
Hello, we are looking into buying a house and noticed few stair step cracks as shown in the pictures attached. These often exhibit themselves in masonry, following the mortar between bricks. There is another smaller area of stair step cracks on the back of the house. I am going to discuss the 2 causes that have by far the greatest effect on a home. Now that you know why stucco cracks, lets find out how serious a stucco crack can be. Examining cracks in stucco requires an intimate knowledge of stucco in order to correctly evaluate the reasons for the cracking, and to provide your client with a fair market cost for repairs. The trick is to caulk the crack first, then apply a stucco patch. The scratch coat for my homes exterior walls was applied a few days ago and in the evening of the first day i noticed cracks forming over top of where the wire mesh is located beneath the scratch coat. Stair step cracking like you see in the brick wall photo can be caused by minor settlement in the footings.
Expansion, wind and stress all play vital roles in why cracking occurs. They are telling you that settlement of some type is happening. Hairline cracks are arguably the most common type of stucco crack. There are two types of stucco houses, one that is cracked and ones that are going to. Unlike hairline cracks, a large stucco crack may indicate a structural problem. In the pic, you can see a stair step crack going in the mortar from the top left to bottom right.
Oct 21, 2019 top 5 causes of cracks in brick veneer homes share this now. Though sometimes regarded as poor mans brick because of its low price, a lot of modern buildings are constructed with this material because of its ability to withstand the test of time, elements, and the constant motion of the earth. These scratch marks will help the next coat adhere better. Now in the winter i am seeing more and more hairline cracks and some spider cracks but still hairline. How to repair stucco cracks on florida home dons painting.
If youve ripped the carpet off your stair risers and now get an eyeful of old paint and glue residue whenever you walk up the stairs, theres an easy fix. Cover the area with plastic sheeting and painters tape to keep it from drying out and let the layer cure until it is sufficiently rigid enough to resist cracking, the pressures of the second coat application and the leveling. The two main reasons for these costs are the complexity of the repair and the fact that it takes time, as it involves waiting for each coat to cure before proceeding to the next step. I have a question about step cracks in stucco on a concrete block house in. The finish coat follows all of the above steps, so i wont repeat them. This chapter of the foundation crack bible discusses in detail the process of evaluating stairstepped or diagonal cracking and related signs. Sometimes these cracks will continue in a stair step pattern following the mortar joint. How to determine if the cracks in walls are serious home. Top 5 causes of cracks in brick veneer homes share this now. I went over some details with the foreman and they all started off. In some cases, the ground can settle under or push in on the walls, creating cracks. Foundation cracks on cinder block everdry waterproofing.
Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful tutorial. Stucco scratchbrown coat complete building a house. It could also be caused by possible upheaval of the foundation. Doors and windows that are difficult to open or close.
Stucco is one of the most durable wall surfaces available, but because of its rigid nature, stucco can develop cracks and holes over time due to settling and impact damage. It is a stair step crack, likely along the seams between concrete blocks. This level of maintenance is expected with stucco homes, and these cracks dont undermine the integrity of the exterior finish. What causes stairstep cracks in a block or brick wall. Once a crack or hole develops it is important to seal. Step 4 before the last coat of patching material dries, remove any excess material using a clean rubber float in a circular sweeping motion.
The last step will be for us to pick a color and have them come back and put on the final coat. Stairstep or diagonal cracks among the most common types of foundation cracking are stairstep or diagonal cracks. I know these types of cracks arent necessarily anything to be alarmed about, but im a little more concerned about the small crack you can see in one the blocks. Once a crack or hole develops it is important to seal it from water to prevent further deterioration. How to repair a stair step crack in a block wall ehow.
Press the fluid into the area as far as possible, and then allow it to dry. Sometimes a stairstep crack will mostly follow the mortar joints, then take a shortcut through a defective block or brick, before returning to the stairstep pattern. Water will help move the caulk around, make it squeeze into the crack and will. Cracks in windows, doors, and interior joint areas. With stucco the slightest movement and or vibrations causes hairline cracks, this does not affect the integrity of the waterproofing membrane, however most folk panic as. Small cracks that are less than 116 inch are common and can be easily repaired with minor filling and repainting, if needed. Hairline cracks tend to result from heavy vibrations due to construction or harsh weather, especially in new homes.
Hello everyone, i have a 5 year old home that had a few hair line cracks the first year. Stair step cracks in exterior brick wall diynot forums. Use a clean rubber float and apply one quarter of an inch of the stucco repair mixture into the crack or hole. Jul 15, 2014 in the pic, you can see a stair step crack going in the mortar from the top left to bottom right. 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. Dec 22, 2015 stair step or diagonal cracks among the most common types of foundation cracking are stair step or diagonal cracks. For small cracks, fill the damaged area with paintable high quality caulking material before continuing with the stucco patch. It sounds counterintuitive, but youll probably need to make the crack wider. The gaps in the wall can run in different directions, but one common crack is called a stair step, where the crack follows the mortar at a diagonal, spreading across many blocks.
Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful. Stair step or stepped cracks in concrete block walls or brick walls like this one are trouble. We bought our first house in july, and there was some cracking in the stucco on one of the side walls. Stucco cracking over concrete block the home experts, inc. The continuous pattern usually follows the grout or cement. Cracks appear in stucco walls of buildings because the ground actually moves, and the building actually moves, and with time and the wetdrywetdry annual seasonal patterns, the ground swellsandshrinks and the building settles somewhat unpredictably over the decades. Hairline stairstep cracks in older cinder block walls are probably the most common damage type.
These cracks often point to a portion of the foundation, such as a corner, that is settling or sinking in relation to the rest of the slab or blocks. I put the builder on notice and of course the warranty has. May 20, 2015 with stucco the slightest movement and or vibrations causes hairline cracks, this does not affect the integrity of the waterproofing membrane, however most folk panic as they have no clue why this. The term ghosting in stucco refers to the visibility of the mortar joints in the concrete masonry wall substrate. I do not new to florida stucco cracksplease help insurance, house, buy orlando fl citydata forum. Other issues that cause cracking issues in plaster can be. Stairstep shaped cracks in the brick are one of the shapes that can be an indication of problems with the foundation. If it is a real hairline crack though, i would caulk it with a clear caulk, smooth it out, and call it good. Cracking is inevitable when it comes to stucco, just like any type of cement based product.
A stairstep 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. Wet the scratch coat prior to application of the brown coat or the finish coat if. These specifically show different cracks in structural systems. But if you ignore them, hairline cracks can become much worse. Often, large cracks develop at the intersection of vertical walls, at the upper corners of window and door frames, or at joints between wood framing and concretebrick masonry. Though cracks in stucco can occur due to different factors, two leading causes of cracks are the house settling process and shrinkageinduced. Our recommended tools, greeting our ambitious and faithful subscribers, as well as fellow plasterers. If you have a small crack in your exterior stucco, you can patch it pretty easilyand you definitely should, or you may be in for more extensive repairs down the line. The wise part is where we explain that sometimes a crack is just a crack, and sometimes it is a symptom of a very serious problem. Large cracks that are more than 116 inch can cause water intrusion issues and other damage. Continue adding one quarter inch layers until the repair material is.
1506 209 1139 1374 1001 102 921 543 613 248 251 462 240 388 1333 357 1039 303 29 864 818 307 1591 1147 251 967 355 712 1550 1065 497 240 359 1089 1112 1100 70