Cracks in your walls can make your home look unappealing and serve as hiding spots for pests. Although some cracks may seem harmless, others may signify serious underlying issues that must be attended to immediately. The question now is, how much crack is normal in your building?
Experienced builders say 2 – 6 inches in length is quite normal when a building begins to settle. It will help to know some causes of cracks in your walls, so you can promptly attend to them. Here are three possible reasons you see cracks in walls.
Foundation damage
Without expert eyes, determining foundation damage simply by looking at the cracks can be challenging. Research has shown that these long distinct cracks appear down the middle of the wall and are often horizontal.
The settling may originate from the foundation when the crack is diagonal and the opening is wider at one end. Foundational damage cracks are often more than a quarter-inch wide and look different from other openings along your walls.
While some degree of settling is expected with its associated cracks, there are instances where inferior construction could be the cause. If this is your issue, the only way to preserve the structural integrity of your house is to get it checked.
Remember that most common foundation issue symptoms can only be properly detected by a licensed professional.
Normal settling over time
Every building undergoes deterioration over a period. Therefore, when you’ve been living in your house for a while, you are bound to see these hairline cracks now and then. That happens because the ground on which your house is built moves.
You may not feel or see the moment these movements happen. However, you can see the signs along the walls where these thin lines appear.
Meanwhile, weather changes can also be a contributing factor. For example, the ground expands in winter because its moisture freezes. In summer, however, it contracts and shrinks due to moisture loss.
Therefore, with expansion and contraction, the ground underneath moves, aiding the formation of cracks. With a little observation in these seasons, you will notice more of these peculiar thin cracks above your home’s doors and windows. Do not be alarmed when you see them appear; you will be safer when you assess them.
It’s a new building
New buildings are bound to start their crack formations from the first year of construction. These small cracks show that the foundation has started settling. It is also an indication of the drying up of new lumber. The latter often contains a lot of moisture at the time of construction.
After a while, however, the drying process sets in, causing the lumber to shrink slightly and shift. That is a natural process in construction, so there isn’t much cause for worry when it happens.
It is particularly important to know about this crucial information, especially when buying a house for the first time. Early signs of these cracks might deter you from purchasing the building, and it may be difficult to determine the age of the new building you wish to buy.
Hopefully, these tips provide insight into cracks you see on your walls so you can take proactive steps to deal with them.
