Brick Veneer Homes

[drewz]

Anybody experienced this before?

As the weather is getting abit better here in Northern Virginia my neighbors and I have noticed very small hairline cracks in the brickwork of our homes, and some bricks have cracked right down the middle. Most of the hairline cracks seem to start in the center of a brick and cracking to the outward edges of the bricks but mostly do not extend into the morter. The bricks with the cracks for the most part are scattered throughout the walls not too many close together. Our homes are brick veneer over a wood frame structure, the homes are about 50 years old should we be concerned or should this be considered normal aging?

We did have a very bad winter last year (Jan/Feb 2010) and a extremely hot dry summer could these extremes have any effect, as most of us have lived in our homes for a least 15 years or more and never had any cracks before this time.

We have also noticed that the homes with light clay (orange-color) bricks seem to have more cracks than the darker brown colored brick homes do, is a lighter color brick weaker than a darker color?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[petek]

Our 1958 house has yellow brick and the only worn bricks are up on the chimney where the a number of them have sort of disintegrated,, ie the facing has crumbled off. I haven't noticed any bricks cracked though,, usually it's the mortar. I've also heard that yellow/light bricks don't last as long but can't say as I've ever noticed it. If anything I would think it has more to do with the inital quality of the bricks.

 

[hydralique]

So long as the cracks are tight and there is no other change in the wall it's unlikely there is a significant problem. I've seen cases however where there are not enough brick ties; these are little flat strips of thin sheetmetal that are nailed to the wall studs and then extended across the ventilation space into the mortar. The ties hold the brick in proper alignment parallel to the studwall, but if there aren't enough the brick wall can develop cracks and begin to lean outward or inward. I don't think that sounds like your case since the cracks aren't continuous.

 

Brick color is a product of the composition of the clay used to make the brick and the firing temperature of the kiln, so it's reasonable to expect different colored brick to age differently.

 

[drewz]

Hydralique,

Thanks for the information, about the brick ties is there one for each course, or are they on individual bricks?

 

[hydralique]

The ties are commercial products so there have been plenty of brands and types through the decades, each with its own recommedation as to placement, nailing, etc. Walls that I've seen with insufficient ties get long horizontal cracks along some mortar joints, usually about halfway up the wall. The wall then bows outward along this crack, with the crack acting like a hinge. It progresses slowly as the overloaded ties lose their grip with the mortar until the bowing is very evident. The fix is to remove the brick and re-lay it with enough ties. I don't think this is your problem but do watch to see if any part of a wall starts to get long horizontal cracks or looks as if it's leaning.

 

[sudsmaster]

My home here has a brick veneer on the wall of the front porch, as well as cladding the front foundation.

I haven't noticed any cracking, and the bricks are probably at least 40 years old. These are full thickness red bricks, with a "distressed" or "used" look - that is, their faces show a mottling of mortar, probably applied at manufacture for that appearance.

The bricks are not structural, except for those that comprise the porch floor, and front steps. In this case I believe they were applied over an existing concrete porch.

I suspect that if your bricks are cracking, it's because they are substandard, and perhaps were chosen on the basis of cost, since they are not structural or load bearing in function, and the cracks won't mean a structural failure. But if they start to fall off the walls... then I'd start worrying...

I would probably also either take a brick to a masonry outfit, or have them pay a site visit to let you know what their professional opinion is.

 

[jerrod6]

Brick veneer?

Does this mean strips of brick material placed over something else are are you talking about actual full bricks with mortar in between them?  My house is brick but I have not experienced any cracks  but a veneer material might act differently in different types of weather.  Have seen cases where the mortar gets old and cracked and you have to sand blast it out and then replace it(I think its called pointing).  I would consult a mason and get an opinion.  

 

 

 

[mattl]

My house has a lot of brick veneer, all reclaimed brick from the turn of last century and forward. In 45 years there is no significant cracking, there is some spalling here and there, but it just adds to the aged look.

 

[drewz]

Jerrod6,

These are full size bricks length and depth like a real brick home by appearance except veneer homes do not have every 6 or 7 course sitting on its end interlocked with usually cinderblock on the backside. Brick veneer homes are just placed with brick ties up against usually a wood frame structure. A know alot of people who were told they have a real brick home but in fact they do not and looking at most homes if the 6 or 7 course of bricks are not set on the ends this is not a "True Brick" structure it's amazing how many real estate agents don't even know what they are advertising or selling.

 

[mattl]

My aunt's house is a true brick home, large thick brick form the walls and 2x2' are split and attached to the brink with a foil insulation between the wood.  It's topped with plaster and it's impossible to insulate.  If the house burned the roof would go but the exterior walls would still be standing.

 

[3beltwesty]

Bricks can be structural or non structural.

Most houses use bricks on the sides for looks, it is non structural, ie is the bricks are removed the house does not collapse.

The non structural bricks are called brick veneer, but the bricks are real bricks a few inches wide. There is also a brick veneer variant where the brick veneer uses ultra thin bricks as thin as bathroom titles.

Brick veneer is spaced about 1 inch of the wall and held by metal pieces every few feet. One a stick/stud house the studs once used blackboard, then foam. The metal brick hangers go into the studs and into the bricks mortar.

Areas where ground moves and things settle often have a defined vertical crack or joint in every 20 to 30 feet. A local post office is like this. The building is about 140 feet long and the brick veneer's courses stop every 20 feet and one4 has a vertical joint where 1/2 bricks are used every other course.

 

[petek]

In the UK they still build their house walls completely of brick and don't do wood frame construction with brick veneering. Anyone from the UK confirm this?

 

[jerrod6]

Drewz, 3Belt:

 

Thanks for the description.  I had no idea.

 

[spookiness]

Alexandria also

Concrete block and brick, steel I-beams in the middle, with joists running front to back and sitting on the beams. They don't build 'em like that anymore.

Yes bricks have cracks in them, but the house had made it 60 years and I figure it will be at least another 60 before its worth worrying about.

 

[drewz]

Spookiness,

a very good description of my 1961 Mid Century Modern Home, and maybe good by today's standards but I would have preferred a "True Brick" home even though I know they also have issues all their own. Can't insulate them and when they do settle they are not an easy fix like you can't re-brick them without tearing down most of the house as they are structual. I guess for me it's very heartbreaking when something was so close to perfect for so long and then over a short period it changes. Personal hangup not good with change even thought I can't stop it. I realize nothing is perfect but I want it near perfect and to stay that way at least until I leave this earth! LOL.

 

[foraloysius]

No wood frame brick houses is the standard in the Netherlands.