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What category of crack is this? 1
- Thread starter pipsy
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I understand your frustration. It's not pleasant, but that's what engineers cost. You could talk to a contractor and they may do a repair estimate for free based on what they believe the best solution may be, but if you want an engineer's official assessment for the record, you have to pay for it. This forum isn't intended for free engineering services, my friend.
Agree with RPGs - if you want a valid opinion based on an actual on-site review of ALL the conditions and features of the structure and brick then hire someone.
Providing a couple of short videos here won't really help you in any reasonably sufficient way.
Providing a couple of short videos here won't really help you in any reasonably sufficient way.
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1
- #7
JoshPlumSE
Structural
What's the age of construction? Is this brand new construction? Has the building been around 30 years?
Do you have drawings for the building that show you how these different elements connect?
Honestly, there is little we can tell you about this crack without knowing more information. However, I can say the following:
a) It is pretty common for masonry elements to crack where they connect.... This is due to shrinkage in the longitudinal direction of these objects. Since the elements are restrained (i.e. connected to the foundation) it makes sense that the cracks get much, much smaller the closer you get to that restraint. Therefore, I wager that these are merely temperature / shrinkage cracks. I don't classify cracks they way you suggest. Though that may be a different between our countries and their building codes.
b) It's not possible to tell if this presents a "structural" problem without knowing more about the structure. Drawings, calculations, load paths, etc. We can make some assumptions. But, any conclusions would have a low degree of confidence. Honestly, we don't even know if these masonry elements are structural (they look structural to me) or merely cladding that hides the real structure underneath.
Personally, if this were a house that I were buying, I would not be scared away by these cracks. They are likely repairable. And, I doubt the cost would be all that great. However, you would still need a engineer (or at least an experienced inspector / contractor) to suggest an appropriate solution to the problem.
Do you have drawings for the building that show you how these different elements connect?
Honestly, there is little we can tell you about this crack without knowing more information. However, I can say the following:
a) It is pretty common for masonry elements to crack where they connect.... This is due to shrinkage in the longitudinal direction of these objects. Since the elements are restrained (i.e. connected to the foundation) it makes sense that the cracks get much, much smaller the closer you get to that restraint. Therefore, I wager that these are merely temperature / shrinkage cracks. I don't classify cracks they way you suggest. Though that may be a different between our countries and their building codes.
b) It's not possible to tell if this presents a "structural" problem without knowing more about the structure. Drawings, calculations, load paths, etc. We can make some assumptions. But, any conclusions would have a low degree of confidence. Honestly, we don't even know if these masonry elements are structural (they look structural to me) or merely cladding that hides the real structure underneath.
Personally, if this were a house that I were buying, I would not be scared away by these cracks. They are likely repairable. And, I doubt the cost would be all that great. However, you would still need a engineer (or at least an experienced inspector / contractor) to suggest an appropriate solution to the problem.
The only thing I could tell from the videos was it appeared that the cracks were wider near the top (vs. at ground level) which suggests some form of settlement out beyond the re-entrant corners.
But again - I'd have to be there to understand the whole arrangement and puzzle it together as to the cause of the cracks.
Could be thermal, masonry shrinkage, lack of flexible expansion joints, etc.
But again - I'd have to be there to understand the whole arrangement and puzzle it together as to the cause of the cracks.
Could be thermal, masonry shrinkage, lack of flexible expansion joints, etc.
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