When a crack in a Rouse Hill home needs an engineer
How we judge whether cracking is cosmetic, ongoing or structural.
In short: Most cracks are cosmetic. Some are a sign of continuing movement. Width, shape, location and change over time tell them apart.
Start with the pattern
Hairline cracks at cornices are common. A vertical crack running full height through brickwork, or a stepped crack widening towards one end, says more.
What we recorded nearby
On a nearby investigation a vertical crack ran the full height of a brick wall at a location where an expansion joint should have been.
Moisture and clay
On reactive clay, changes in moisture under part of the house cause differential movement. Leaks and poor drainage are common triggers.
Monitoring
Marking crack ends and measuring over weeks shows whether movement is continuing.
The point to bring in an engineer
Wide or growing cracks, doors and windows that stop working, or cracks with displacement across them warrant a structural engineer.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Rouse Hill. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
