There is cracks on exterior brick wall. Top side crack is little larger than 1/4 in.
Opposite here inside of this crack is garage. There is no interior signs or crack in garage wall.
Is it a typical crack?
Yes. Very common on brick veneer siding in the mortar. It should be sealed for water penetration though. The top layer capping should have a slope to drain the water away along with proper flashing under the bottom layer of siding.
Btw…Welcome Dong!
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Very typical in my area. Remember, the brick facade is not a structural element in this instance. But still, put it in your report as it should be addressed in order to prevent further damage (if possible).
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Evening, Dong.
No crack is typical I say BUT those as serpentine or step cracks.
In my report I would note:
Observation: Exterior:
Partial Masonry wall. Running bond. Concave mortar tooling. Rowlock coping.
Poor ground clearance.
Serpentine or step cracks.
No adverse conditions observed the day of the inspection.
Recommend: A licensed masonry contractor: 1: Repair damaged mortar. 2: Prove adequate ground clearance.
It appears to be a step crack and it is a defect that should be addressed in your report. And although I wouldn’t consider this an issue to raise red flags over, I would avoid calling it a “typical” crack in your report.
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Same answer here.
Good point Kevin. Definitely needs to be addressed but avoid the five alarm fire narrative.
Something like this:
Questions for you @dseo2 ,
- Did you move any mulch to see where the subgrade was in relation to the brick, and check for weep holes?
- What kind of gradient did the lot have in that area?
- Where are you located? (Adding this to your first post would be helpful)
- Do you know how to create a signature for your profile on here?
The reason I ask is I see a splash plate at the bottom of the downspout instead of an extension. These things are worthless IMHO. If you are in an area prone to freezing, and the subgrade is in contact with the brick, then the cracking will get worse or could happen again when the soil heaves up in the winter. Saturated expansive soil can do this as well over time. Lack of adequate drainage and expansive soil can reek havoc on veneers such as this.
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How about the garage floor?
The crack is wider at the top than at the bottom. This implies movement or settlement of the supporting foundation (no surprise with that downspout terminating near the wall) . I would classify it as an uncommon crack which calls for further evaluation by a structural engineer.
The top course of masonry is a corbeled, rowlock coping course. Should be sloped not less than 15 degrees. Underneath the coping should be a capillary break running the complete length of the coping course.
Corbel, Racking, Caps, Coping.
Flashing is required at the material transitions.
Good read for anyone interested.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS WITH BRICK ROWLOCK SILLS AND COPINGS
Real common, thermo expansion is typically the culprit here in az.