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WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CRACKS IN THE WALLS?

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CRACKS IN THE WALLS

More than 40% of houses in Australia are inundated with walls cracks (Source). Not all the cracks are a threat to the building but there may be some cracks that can be due to serious underneath defects. Building Inspection Council has observed that walls cracks can be expensive and even leave your home unsafe to live in. There are many causes of cracks in the walls.

 A building inspection will list all these cracks and highlight the cracks of concern. Cracks can happen due to various reasons and it is helpful to understand the causes of the cracks of the walls. Building Inspection Council has compiled a list of reasons for building cracks. 

Settling and subsidence

Soil excavation is required in all most every building which causes soil disruption. This disturbed soil will compact and settle over time. This process causes the movement of buildings and cracks in the walls.  Subsidence can take months, or even years to occur. Minor subsidence happens in every building but the significant downward movement of soil causes structural cracks.

Poor Design and Construction work

Wall cracks can happen due to poor construction or design of the property. A poorly designed wall will crack under too much weight. Similarly inferior, flawed, faulty, or incompatible building material will fail to perform and give way for cracks. An ill-designed structure or footing can also result in building cracks.

Reactive Soil

Some types of soils (such as clay) are extremely reactive and expand with moisture and contract when dry. These types of soil will cause uneven movement in the base of the house and become the cause of cracks in walls. It is important to have proper soil testing done before building your home. If possible, choose non-reactive soils such as sand or gravel.

Degradation of material

Crumbling Concrete -Building Inspection CouncilLike everything else in this world, building materials do decay with time.  Rusting, rotting, weathering and poor maintenance lead to the degradation of the material. Once building material starts to degrade, the structure starts to succumb leading to cracks. Concrete crumbling is another phenomenon that can cause cracks and happen due to the chemical reaction of concrete with salt and moisture.

Climate Change and floods

Climate change leads to variation in humidity and temperature. This change causes the contraction and expansion of building elements which leads to cracks in the walls.

Extreme weather changes such as drought and floods cause the significant contraction and expansion of soil. Similarly, a change in the water level under the building changes the moisture content also.

Excavation and Construction near House

If there is new construction especially excavation in the proximity of your house, then vibration from the heavy machinery, excessive compaction, blasting can cause the walls to crack in your house.

In this case, a dilapidation report can help house owners and avoid conflict between stakeholders.

Water damage

Water damage slowly decomposes the building element to collapse and results in wall cracks. Water damage can happen due to blocked gutters, water leaks, drainage issues, poor slopes, and floods. A water leak or water accumulation under the floor can rot footing or soil causing the building movement. It can wash away the soil directly under the foundation.

Trees in close proximity

Trees in the proximity of the building can cause significant cracks in the building. Tress have invasive roots which penetrate through the walls or soil under the foundation contributing to the cracks in the walls.  Tree roots change the moisture content around the building which affects the integrity of the structure.

Inspecting Cracks - Building Inspection CouncilA building inspection can warn you about the building cracks and their severity. The inspection report can hint about potential causes of the building cracks in the property. The owner should assess if these causes can be fixed and if yes, how much it will cost. The information about the causes of the cracks can help you to avoid the cracks in the future.

Building Inspection Council is a not-for-profit community service that helps Australian property buyers with free building inspection quotes. The best thing about being a not-for-profit organization is that we do not have to compromise on anything for profit. We provide free quotes from expert local inspectors and reveals the causes of cracks in walls. CLICK HERE FOR FREE QUOTES.

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WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CRACKS IN THE WALLS