Why do bricks crack?

Masonry can crack for a number of reasons, with the most common being:

Temperature fluctuations

Sudden changes in temperature can cause bricks to expand or contract, often at different rates to the surrounding materials, eventually causing them to crack.

Moisture

Bricks are made out of hard baked clay, a porous material. Over time, they can absorb moisture and swell, leading to them cracking. This can occur due to water ingress through the mortar joints, exposure to high levels of humidity, or freeze-thaw cycles.

Soil subsidence

When the ground beneath a building settles, it can cause the foundation and walls to shift and crack. If you believe this may be the cause then we would recommend having a structural survey carried out first

Poor workmanship

Inadequate mortar joints or incorrect brick bonding patterns can cause stress and movement within the wall, leading to cracking.

Age

Like any building material, bricks will naturally deteriorate over time. This can result in cracks, chips, or discolouration.

During your survey, we’ll take care to correctly identify the cause of the cracking in your bricks. This will help us determine the most suitable repair method to use going forwards.

Why do cracked bricks need to be repaired?

When water trickles in through a crack in your masonry, it can slowly penetrate through to the interior of your walls and cause damp to form. This can damage the materials in your wall and can lead to the growth of mould,a potentially serious health risk.

Penetrating damp may also affect your internal timbers which could then result in wood boring beetle infestations and wood destroying rots.

Cracks also compromise your home’s insulation, meaning you’ll need to spend more on heating to keep it warm in the winter.