Hi All,
My home is a brand new construction that is reaching the end of 1st year warranty.
I’ve noticed a crack on exterior brick wall right about the garage door recently. Interestingly, around the same area on the interior side ceiling in the garage there is straight dry wall crack as well. Any insights?
P.S: I’m trying to figure out a way to upload the pictures. Please standby.
Thanks.
File a Claim with the Builder immediately!!
I highly recommend an 11-month warranty inspection performed by an experienced InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector.
That would be settling of the garage door opening span. A common occurrence.
The brick veneer siding is not a structural component, bu is a very good indicator of building movement. When it shows up inside the garage, I would consider it more significant.
As recommended, report it to the Builder immediately. If not properly constructed, it could be a very significant repair.
It’s their job to fix it.
I got the 11month inspection done, including the foundation elevation analysis and it was determined that it was within the thresholds although there was some movement detected.
I’m hoping this issue doesn’t turn out to be something major 
Looks like minor settlement of the brick and possibly failure of the drywall tape. I’ve seen much much worse.
That’s not too bad. From here it looks like just shrinkage. Still go through and record everything on this incident because after your warranty expires you still have a structural warranty that the Builder is responsible for. Making a report now will be needed down the road.
No doubt in my mind the door header deflected under load.
Thank you so much all…that puts my mind at ease!!
I have a meeting with my builder tomorrow and hoping they take care of it. I’ll keep you posted.
And a big load it is! 
The lintel over the garage door is failing. Some builders in my area have been known in the past to install lintels over garage doors that were too small of a gauge metal to support the brick load, and the result is cracked mortar and brick above. This condition could eventually lead to total failure.
If you look at the opening in the door you may see what I call a smiley face.
I would get a 12 month warranty home inspection and make sure the inspector sees it and reports it as a defect.
Example lintel sizes based on opening width:
Important points to remember:
For accurate sizing and design, especially for large or complex garage door openings.
Ensure the lintel extends a minimum of 6 inches on each side of the opening to properly distribute the load.
I don’t see any sagging at this time. Just the crack traveling up the wall about 2ft…
Also, I just rechecked and the dry wall crack I don’t think is related to this one as they are offset by about a couple of feet. That looks very much like taping issue.
For reference…
In the field, I often see this crack continue up to this point. I will leave it up to others to determine why this happens but it is relatively common in my area.
What’s the recommended fix? Will they have to remove the brick veneer and reconstruct the lintel area? Thanks.
I would document it with an inspection report and with your own pictures and I would tell the builder to fix it.
i don’t think it’s a coincidence that the crack is right below all those intersecting sidewalls and intersecting gables above it. Check for cracks in the stem wall around the perimeter of the garage to see if this is setting of foundation.
I very seriously doubt that they would do that, but I don’t know.
