- Thermalite Lightweight Building Blocks
- Repairing Cracks In Thermalite Blocks Sizes Blocks
- Thermalite Blocks Price
- Repairing Cracks In Thermalite Blocks Sizes Concrete
- Repairing Cracks In Thermalite Blocks Sizes Chart
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about brick wall or foundation cracking caused by theraml expansion
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Brick wall cracking due to thermal expansion:
We illustrate properly-designed control joints to prevent cracking in brick walls.
A #crackedengineblock in a vehicle is not uncommon and certainly does not mean the end of the engine's lifespan. There are various methods of repairing crack. Using Thermalite blocks in the inner leaf of the cavity wall can meet U-values down to 0.17 W/m2K with a 300mm footprint. If Thermalite Enhanced Construction Details are used, this will also dramatically reduce the heat loss through thermal bridging at the junctions of elements. Cracks in the concrete blocks and mortar joints are exposed where water easily makes its way through. A tall water column builds up inside the hollow blocks and the hydrostatic pressure pushes water indoors, seeping through the pores and thin walls of the lower blocks.
This article series describes ypes of concrete and other masonry wall & foundation cracks, crack patterns, differences in the meaning of cracks in different foundation materials, site conditions, building history,and other evidence of building movement and damage.
This information assists in recognizing foundation defects and helps separate cosmetic or low-risk conditions from those likely to be important, possibly quite dangerous, and potentially costly to repair.
We also provide a MASTER INDEX to this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.
How to Identify, Diagnose, & Evaluate Thermal Expansion Damage to Brick Walls
This article describes extensive damage that can be caused to brick structures due to thermal expansion of long brick walls lacking expansion joints.
We list factors that determine the extent of thermal expansion damage to a brick wall or structure. Absence of control joints or expansion joints in long brick walls leads to extensive cracking damage, and we provide photographs of brick wall crack damage attributible to thermal expansion
We describe how to recognize, diagnose, & evaluate thermal expansion cracks in brick walls &: brick foundations and how to distinguish between this type of cracking failures and other cracks and movement in masonry foundations or walls, such as concrete, masonry block, brick, stone foundation damage due to impact, settlement, frost or water damage, and other causes.
Thermal expansion failures in structural or veneer brick walls: is a topic misunderstood by many builders, masons, engineers, architects, and inspectors.
As Dave Wickersheimer, R.A. P.E. and masonry failure expert has pointed out, brick 'grows' in size indefinitely [though probably most of its size increase is early after it's manufacture.]
But a separate factor that can cause very large movements andextensive damage to brick structures or brick veneer walls is the thermal expansion which occurs across a long or tall brick wallwhen that wall is heated by sun exposure.
The photographs here show significant thermal expansion damage in a long brick structure - the Poughkeepsie NY Jewish Community Center) when we first photographed it in 1989. We visited this site again for an update in June 2007.
This brick veneer wall was built over a concrete block building.
The brick veneer was attached using normal steel strap methods and the brick veneer was also reinforced at intervals using a horizontal steel wire. But the wall, more than 100' long, was built without a single expansion joint.
As the south-facing wall of this building heated in summer sun the wall grew in lengthuntil it pushed out the East and West building corners at their tops for a total of nearly 3' measured by dropping a plumb line from each building corner.
The veneer movement produced a variety of damage, including:
- Significant breaks and gaps at vertical brick mortar joints due to thermal expansion and perhaps some frost and water damage are shown in our photo above.
- Horizontal sliding breaks in brick mortar joints [above], exposing reinforcing wire to rust, exfoliation, and additional damage from those forcesas the exfoliating wire produced still more pressure on the mortar joint.
- Step cracking following mortar joints near the building corners and where the wall movement was resisted by first story intersecting brick walls abutting at right angles the middle section of the long brick wall. This long brick wall was built with no control joints.
- Cracks and broken bricks, and damaged windows at intersections of brick walls and these openings. Additionalwindow damage is shown in the color photograph lower on this page.
- Cracks in the interior concrete block structural wall were observed in the building interior
- Leaks and water entry and some frost damage and related loosening of the brick veneer at various locations around the building but weremost severe in areas exposed to thermal expansion of long brick veneer walls.
We were surprised that there was not more extensive damage to the structural walls themselves, and we urged the building management to consultan experienced mason for further inspection and repair. We expected the mason to cut vertical expansion joints in the wall and to seal thesejoints with an appropriate flexible filler material or gasket.
No repairs were made, the cracks had grown slightly, and leaks had increased at the time of an informal site inspection and visit we made again in June 2007, as shown in the photographs below.
Factors which determine the extent of thermal expansion damage to a brick wall or structure
Above: an open a control joint built into a brick wall of a building in Kingston, NY. It's no surprise that this wall had a good control joint in the brick wall: note that the sign indicates that this building houses James McGowan and sons, a Kingston masonry company.
Below: sealed control joints in a brick veneer at the Van Scriver Elementary School in Haddonfield New Jersey. These control joints are placed at intervals of 25 stretcher brick courses - green arrows.
- Proper installation of thermal expansion joints
is the critical design factor to avoid thermal expansion damage to brick.
Omission of the expansion joint in a long brick wall is likely to lead to cracking damage, particularly on long walls.
[See our photos above] [Click to enlarge any image] - Selection and application of connectors
between the brick veneer and the structure is an important factor - some connectorspermit more movement between the brick veneer and the structure.
However even if a large brick veneer wall is properly fastened,if lacks expansion joints damage is likely, especially on the sun-exposed walls - Sun exposure:
simply walking around a large structure such as the building complex shown in these photographs, it becomesquite apparent that thermal expansion damage occurs worst on long brick walls which are facing South and/or those which receivethe most sun exposure. - Means of brick veneer attachment:
A second factor inthe probability of damage to a brick veneer wall is the means of attachment of the veneer to the building structure.
Brick veneer wallswere traditionally secured to the underlying wood or masonry structure using corrugated steel strips which were fastened at one endto the structure and at the other end laid in the brick veneer wall at mortar joints.
These connectors permit some verticalmovement between the structures but resists lateral movement. Some newer brick veneer connectors are designed to permithorizontal as well as some vertical movement differences between the brick veneer wall and the structure.
And of course, whereproper expansion joints are provided in the expanse of a brick wall and at windows and doors which penetrate that wall, weshould not see thermal expansion damage to the bricks nor to the structure.
Below, a closer look at the sealed control joints at the control joints in a brick veneer at the Van Scriver Elementary School in Haddonfield New Jersey.
- Brick veneer bottom support:
on some residential properties we've found loose brick veneer walls that lacked adequate support to carry their weight.
Typical brick veneer support on a residential building uses either a steel angle iron fastened to the foundation wall to carry the bricks from their first course, or if the brick veneer was in the original plans for the building the architect or builder may have specified that the building foundation wall project approximately 4' (one brick width) out from the building structural wall to carry the load of the bricks. - Combined effects of weather & thermal cracking
may increase cracking and movement in a brick structure or brick veneer structure.
It's possible that the wall-corner cracks in the photograph at the top of this page were aggravated by leaks at the roof or roof parapet since this building is located in a freezing climate. - Distinguishing between brick thermal cracking and frost cracking:
How can we distinguish between brick cracking due to roof or parapet wall leaks and brick cracking due to thermal movement: a leak and frost related crack on a masonry building tends to be horizontal near the top of the building wall at about the location of the roof surface behind the parapet wall, or just below that point - describing where water is entering the structure.
Thermal cracking in the same brick wall will generate stair-step cracks or vertical cracks near the wall ends (or building corners) and will be independent of high-on-wall horizontal cracks that map the surface of the roof itself. - Brick veneer vs. structural brick:
OPINION: we suspect that at least in some cases, a brick veneer wall might suffer worse damage from thermal expansion than a brick structural wall, based on the hypothesis that a brick veneer wall, being a single brick in thickness, has less thermal mass and so will heat up more quickly across its surface than a structural brick wall which will be two or more wythes of bricks in thickness, joined by bond courses. - Cracks & Movement in Loose Brick Veneer Walls - Support Issues?
See BRICK VENEER WALL LOOSE, BULGED for details of bulged cracked brick veneer wall damage caused by inadequate support, frost, or building damage - low-rise residential buildings.
Reader Q&A - also see the FAQs series linked-to below
On 2020-07-21 by Daniel
If you are looking for a reliable and experienced masonry contractor in Boston head over to AMN masonry, they offer wide range of services including, brick and stone repointing, concrete repair, and historic building restoration services as well.
On 2019-08-05 - by (mod) -
If you can cut the old sealant sides sufficient to pry it out of the expansion joint using a simple utility knife or in combination with a putty knife that would be a start but I wouldn't remove it until you're ready to install the new sealant.
It's also important that the expansion joint surfaces be clean and dry
On 2019-08-05 - by (mod) -
Thanks for the added detail for the question. Since the expansion joint goes all the way through the brick a baccarat it's not a bad idea.
I need to do some research to make some specific suggestions on expansion joint sealant products used by most Masons. Because the joint is or maybe rather wide it may exceed the tolerable width across which conventional sealants such as silicone or polyurethane generic sealants are designed.
On 2019-08-04 by Sam
I have only one joint. Attached is a pic taken today. Left side of the expansion joint does not get much sun as its shaded by another house. The house is about 20 years old, I am not sure what material the builder used for the joint.
Any specific sealant you would recommend to replace the current material?
Can i remove the current material with a utility knife and do I need to use a backer rod for this?
Thanks,
Sam
On 2019-08-03 - by (mod) -
Sam,
If we are sure that there are a sufficient number of brick wall control joints or 'expansion joints' in your building construction
then I suspect that the expansion joint filler has lost its flexibility.
It would be helpful to know the age of the building and just what material is used in the expansion joint.
Any case the repair may require that the present material is removed and is replaced with a new flexible masonry sealant
See SEAL CRACKS in CONCRETE, HOW TO for some examples of suitable products.
On 2019-08-02 by Sam - crack at brick wall control joint - Dallas TX building
Hi,
I am seeing cracks in the expansion joint (attached photo shown above was taken in Spring), and this crack increases in size (i.e. space between bricks on either side of the joint increases) in summer and reduces in winter.
I live in Dallas, TX. The brick wall faces south west and I suspect the the direct exposure to sun (hot summer) is causing this. Any suggestions on how to mitigate this from happening in summer?
On 2019-04-05 - by (mod) -
Brent the roughly diagonal step cracking pattern, while it could be thermal expansion, probably is NOT in this this case due to heating/cooling.
Take a look at the slight drop in elevation of that last two bricks atop the wall, the fact that the step cracks are much wider near the top of the wall than at the bottom., and the location of the cracking near a corner.
There is also a bit of settlement.
You don't give the country, city location of the wall but the background looks like a hot dry climate like Tucson or Lake Surprise.
Even so there is occasional rain - note the white effloresence on the bricks - or less likely water from an irrigation system (not recommended in AZ).
Settlement can occur even in a dry climate after rain wets and compacts poorly-compacted soil or settles an inadequately prepared footing.
To me this looks like settlement.
On 2019-04-05 by (mod) - Step cracks in Arizona building
Brent the roughly diagonal step cracking pattern, while it could be thermal expansion, probably is NOT in this this case due to heating/cooling.
Take a look at the slight drop in elevation of that last two bricks atop the wall, the fact that the step cracks are much wider near the top of the wall than at the bottom., and the location of the cracking near a corner.
There is also a bit of settlement.
You don't give the country, city location of the wall but the background looks like a hot dry climate like Tucson or Lake Surprise.
Even so there is occasional rain - note the white effloresence on the bricks - or less likely water from an irrigation system (not recommended in AZ).
Settlement can occur even in a dry climate after rain wets and compacts poorly-compacted soil or settles an inadequately prepared footing.
To me this looks like settlement.
On 2019-04-05 by Brent
At the corner or a patio with a brick half-wall that stretches 25 feet long by 4 feet high hitting a right angle where it mates with a the back half-wall of the patio edge (which runs the same length and width), there is a stair-like separation of the bricks three to five feet from the corner, showing starkly on the outside of the brick wall, and easily seen on the inside of the brick wall too. On the inside, naturally, the bricks are pushing outward an inch at the separation joint.
And, this is Arizona, and the sun beats on that area a good 6-8 hours a day; half of the year 80-100 degrees. So, sure, one might think 'Thermal Expansion.' However, complicating a diagnosis is the installation of a fountain at that same corner. So, we wonder if the weight of that fountain added to water erosion from watering the plants might have caused this problem. I am adding images of the outside and the interior corner. Kind of a puzzler, as we are not sure how to approach this.
That is, we would hate to tear away the corner fountain and corner base, and corner wall all to excavate it unnecessarily. We would love to just fix the bricks and install an expansion joint if that would do all that is necessary. We had a contractor look at it, but...he wants to rip it all apart. So, again, let us know what you think.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s Comments Box code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-01-13 by Anonymous
You need an onsite expert, and there could be a collapse risk.
On 2019-01-12 by NR Swain
Sir our home is 2 years old but many cracks found in wall and roof. It sounds a cracking sound every 20 minutes interval. Plz help .. contact no is +917205734043
Thermalite Lightweight Building Blocks
...
Continue reading at BRICK VENEER WALL LOOSE, BULGED or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see BRICK WALL THERMAL EXPANSION CRACK FAQs - thermal cracking brick crack questions and answers posted originally on this page.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- BRICK FOUNDATIONS & WALLS - home
- BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES - home
- THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS for a table of the coefficient of expansion of common building materials including brick, concrete, mortar, and stone.
Suggested citation for this web page
BRICK WALL THERMAL EXPANSION CRACKS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING STRUCTURES
Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
...
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.
Search the InspectApedia website
Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed:if your comment contains an image, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.
Technical Reviewers & References
- ...
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
- Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
- ...
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional HOME INSPECTION SERVICES and also extensive HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION and home inspection-related PUBLICATIONS. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material.
The ILLUSTRATED HOME illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space.
TECHNICAL REFERENCE GUIDE to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment, useful for determining the age of heating boilers, furnaces, water heaters is provided by Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. - The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The HOME REFERENCE eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. - Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd
COMMERCIAL BUILDING INSPECTION COURSES - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURESES (Canada)
HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURSES (USA) including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION: HOME STUDY COURSES - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. - The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones
Learn how to tell when a foundation crack might indicate a serious structural problem—and when you can repair it easily yourself, and then rest easy.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Your home’s foundation—the concrete walls surrounding a basement or crawl space—supports the entire weight of the house. So it’s natural to be concerned if you ever discover cracks in the concrete. Fortunately, many foundation cracks are not serious enough to warrant professional attention, and repairing a foundation crack can be a DIY task as long as the crack doesn’t threaten structural integrity. The best way to ensure that a crack doesn’t indicate a major issue is to have a foundation contractor or a structural engineer take a look, but some general rules can help you decide whether or not you should worry. So, see where your crack falls on the range of scenarios and understand how to move forward.
If you find hairline cracks, don’t sweat it.
Within a year after construction, hairline cracks (about the width of a sewing thread) commonly appear on the inside of basement walls, most often near windows and doors or in the corners of the basement. This is due to normal “settling,” or the concrete shrinking slightly as it cures. As long as the cracks are hairline in width, there’s nothing to worry about. If you’d like to cover them, apply a coat of paint suitable for masonry, such as INSL-X TuffCrete Acrylic Paint (available from Amazon).
If a narrow crack is new, monitor it for expansion.
When you notice a new crack that’s not hairline but still no wider than 1/8-inch, it’s probably due to settling and most likely it doesn’t present a problem—unless it continues to expand. To monitor a crack, make a pencil mark at both ends and write the date by each mark. In addition, measure the width at the widest point and write that on the wall as well. Check the crack at least monthly for several months and make additional marks and dates if the crack expands.
If no expansion occurs and no moisture seeps through, the crack is stable and you can fill it will grout, such as Saschco Gray MorFlexx Grout Repair (available from Amazon), and then smooth out with a putty knife.
Repairing Cracks In Thermalite Blocks Sizes Blocks
Photo: istockphoto.com
If the crack is wider than 1/8-inch, it should be sealed.
Cracks between 1/8 and ¼ of an inch often result from house settling or concrete shrinking within a few months after construction, and so may pose no structural problem. But it’s a good idea to seal them to keep out moisture, soil smells, or even radon gas (check this EPA site to see if radon is a problem in your area). Repairing a foundation crack in this width range is a simple DIY project that involves filling the crack with caulk compatible with concrete, such as GE’s Concrete and Masonry Silicone II Caulk (available from Amazon).
If a horizontal crack appears where the foundation wall meets the basement floor, it’s not a structural problem, but it should be sealed.
Because basement floors are poured after the walls are poured, the concrete where they meet doesn’t always bond completely—and this is a common spot for a crack to appear when the house settles. The crack can be up to ½ inch wide and it still doesn’t pose a problem other than letting in moisture, smells, and gasses. Repairing a foundation crack of this nature is similar to repairing other non-structural cracks: Fill it with a caulk suitable for use on concrete. If a crack between the wall and floor exceeds ½ inch (some can be two inches wide or more inches wide), call a foundation contractor who can fill it by injecting an expanding epoxy.
If water is seeping through a crack, seal the crack and divert the water.
Basements and crawl spaces are normally damp because they’re located below grade (yard level). But when water—not just moisture—actually seeps through a crack, it poses an increased risk of mold and mildew growth. While the crack should be sealed as described above, it’s even more important to keep water away from the foundation wall. This can be done by removing foundation plantings, installing guttering and downspouts, and adding soil to the yard along the foundation in order to create a two percent or more slope away from the house that allows water to run away from the foundation.
Photo: istockphoto.com
If a foundation wall crack is wider than ½-inch, have a pro take a look.
Although many larger cracks may still turn out to be harmless, it’s a good idea to have a foundation contractor or a structural engineer inspect the foundation to check for structural problems.
Thermalite Blocks Price
Repairing a foundation crack wider than ½-inch may well be a DIY task, but on the off-chance that the crack is due to something more serious, a professional opinion should be sought first.
If a large crack accompanies a bulge in a foundation wall, it indicates a structural problem.
Foundation walls are reinforced with steel to keep them from moving. In areas with clay soil, the clay can swell when it becomes wet and put intense lateral (hydrostatic) pressure on the wall, pushing it inward. This is a major problem, and a foundation contractor should be consulted.
If the bulge is slight, it might be difficult to see, but you can hold a long straightedge, such as a six-foot level, along the wall to determine whether the area with the crack is bulging. Even a slight bulge that accompanies a crack is cause for concern and a pro should take a look.
If a crack is horizontal, it presents more of a risk than a vertical or diagonal crack.
While any crack can be unsightly, vertical and diagonal cracks are usually the result of normal settling, and they can be treated as directed above. Like bulging walls, horizontal cracks are typically caused by hydrostatic pressure, and even if the wall isn’t bulging, it’s time to call in the pros.
Stabilizing a foundation with structural problems can involve a number of different remedies, including excavation around the outside of the wall, hydraulic lifting, or underpinning the wall with steel, but only a foundation contractor will be able to assess the extent of the problem and offer a suitable remedy.
