Living in North Texas, you may notice more shifts in your foundation than you would in most other regions of the United States. Unfortunately, the volatile composition of the soil in this area (referred to as “expansive clay soil”). largely contributes to this phenomenon. These shifts can manifest as doors not fitting properly in their frames, uneven or sunken floors, or cracks in your walls, tile or even exterior brick. The presence of most of these issues should prompt you to call a trusted foundation repair company in Arlington (or elsewhere in the Dallas metroplex). to professionally assess the issue to determine if repair is indeed necessary.
However, occasionally you might find that these problems don’t result in needing foundation repair – if that’s the case, why else would your bricks crack?
Why Are the Bricks on My House Cracking?
First, you should research and find out what composition your bricks are made of – if they’re clay bricks, the culprit may be the moisture in the environment that is causing the cracks. Similar to expansive clay soil, which can compromise the integrity of your home’s foundation, clay bricks can fluctuate with the amount of moisture it is exposed to. When bricks are made, they are fired in a kiln so that all the trace moisture is evaporated – meaning that brick is shipped and built being the smallest it can be.
Once the bricks are installed and laid, builders can anticipate “growth” of the bricks by up to a ½”, just by the absorption of additional moisture once exposed to the elements. You may notice any cracks that result from these shifts at the corners of the house, or diagonal cracks along the brick.
How Can You Prevent Brick Walls From Cracking?
If you are building a new home, ensure you choose a professional builder that understands the importance of creating small gaps in the brick veneer to allow for expansion without compromising the integrity of the brick wall. It is up to the homebuilder to ensure that your brick walls are built in such a way to either accommodate any expansion, or are made with a composition that won’t expand with moisture.
If you have already experienced cracked brick in your home, keep in mind it could also be a foundation issue. Shifting foundations in concrete slabs and pier and beam foundation can also be due to expansive clay that can cause the brick to crack and make foundation uneven. It’s important to have a company that specializes in foundation repair evaluate your home in order to determine the cause of the cracks, as undiagnosed foundation issues can become very costly and time-consuming to fix.
For the best foundation repair service in the Dallas metroplex, HD Foundations has the solution for you – whether you need a professional and reliable evaluation, or comprehensive foundation repair work, only trust the best in the industry. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
