How to Deal with Cracks in Your Walls – From your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Cracks are something nobody wants to see developing in or around their home. They are unsightly and even more telling, it could be message that you have more serious problem that needs to be dealt with by a professional. Cracks can appear in recently constructed homes or older homes.

Some cracks are minor and could be simply the result of the house just settling but others can be indicative of major structural or water damage. In either event, you should do more than just a patch up job before a major problem worsens.

Cracks appear for a variety of common reasons and may only result in minor exterior or interior damage and can be repaired with nothing more than a simple patch job.

Let’s look at some of the more common reasons cracks appear and solutions which you can apply.

Drywall Cracks

Drywall cracks can sometimes appear as hairline cracks because the drywall was abutted too tightly together when they were installed. These can be easily repaired simply by making the joints a little wider than filling with a soft plaster mix and sanded.

Brick and Stone Wall Cracks

Cracks can appear on brick walls or walls made of stone such as granite, sandstone and other types of rock. They are often caused by temperature changes, vibrations from local traffic, and worsened when water gets into the crack and freezes which widens the crack Cracks can also be caused by corrosion of wall tiles, foundation movement and other causes. The pointing between the brick can also deteriorate and crack as well.

If it’s just the pointing that is problematic then that is easily repairable simply by hiring a mason or knowledgeable handyman to chip out the rotten concrete and re-fill the pointing.

If the crack is long, jagged and the wall appears to have a curve or uneven surface then you might have a more serious problem. You can also tell if a crack is potentially serious if you see signs of it both inside and outside. or if there are signs of water leakage and damage appearing in the interior of your home.

At this point you might want to contact a licensed contractor as the situation could be a structural issue which needs a professional approach to ensure repairs are done properly.

Foundation Cracks

Cracks in your foundation can even more problematic because the basement walls are the central foundation of your home. These you should monitor closely. Some signs that might indicate that you have a serious foundation problem could occur if you notice that the cracks are jagged and especially if they zig-zag from a window casement.

Another sign of serious foundation issues could be if you notice that the basement walls on the inside or even the outside have a bow in them, or if they appear uneven in any way. Some foundation cracks are minor and do not pose a major structural issue. They can be repaired relatively easy.

However, foundation cracks should not be left for long because if it is a foundation issue then the problem will only continue to deteriorate. This is a major repair bill and requires using a contactor who specializes in repairing foundations.

The main thing about cracks is that you should keep your eye on them and not let them go on too long. If it appears that the crack seems minor, then you can carry out the appropriate repair. However, if the crack returns then you might want to consider contacting a professional to take a closer look.

You can take it fro your Vancouver mortgage broker that cracks can be a major obstacle in selling your home and can even be unsafe if left alone.