Record six details
Possible cause families
Cracks may be associated with concrete shrinkage, temperature movement, settlement, flexure, impact, reinforcement corrosion, joint restraint, cap movement or load transfer between components. A professional may need drawings, alignment measurements and material investigation to distinguish them.
Clues that raise concern
- Crack width or offset is increasing
- Multiple cracks form a movement pattern
- The wall is leaning, bowing or separating nearby
- Soil or water is moving through the crack
- Concrete is spalling or reinforcing steel is exposed
- The crack followed a storm, impact or new upland loading
Repair approaches are cause-specific
Surface sealing, routing and sealing, resin injection, patching, joint reconstruction, reinforcement repair, anchors or partial replacement can all be legitimate in the right condition. A cosmetic treatment should not be presented as a structural repair unless the underlying mechanism has been evaluated.
Primary sources
These links support the regulatory, historical or technical context on this page. Open the live official page before acting on time-sensitive information.
This page provides general homeowner education. It does not determine structural safety, prescribe a repair or replace agency and professional review for a specific property.