Crack Identification
Learn to identify different types of foundation cracks. Understand vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and stair-step crack patterns.
Brick Veneer Cracks vs. Foundation Cracks: How to Tell Them Apart
Most brick home exterior cracks are in the veneer, not the foundation. Learn to spot the difference before paying for fo...
Apr 13, 2026The Crack That Looked Catastrophic
Dave Morrison shares what he misread about a stair-step crack in a friend's basement and what a structural engineer foun...
Apr 7, 2026Efflorescence on Basement Walls: What That White Powder Actually Means
Efflorescence is the white chalky residue on basement walls. Learn what causes it, whether it signals a foundation probl...
Mar 31, 2026Crawl Space Foundation Cracks: Different Rules Down There
Crawl space foundation cracks behave differently than basement cracks. Dave Morrison explains what he found under his fr...
Mar 27, 2026Understanding Cracks in Slab Foundations
Learn about different types of slab foundation cracks, what causes them, and which ones indicate serious problems. Pract...
Jan 24, 2026Cold Joint Cracks: What They Are and When to Worry
Learn to identify cold joint cracks in poured concrete foundations. Understand why they form, their severity, and when r...
Jan 17, 2026Basement Floor Cracks: What They Actually Mean
My basement floor has at least 8 visible cracks. Here's why I stopped panicking and which floor cracks actually matter.
Dec 30, 2024Block Wall Foundation Cracks: A Different Animal
Block foundations crack differently than poured concrete. Here's what I learned helping my parents deal with cracks in t...
Dec 30, 2024Corner Foundation Cracks: The Universal Weak Point
Every corner of my foundation has some kind of crack. Here's what I learned about why corners crack and which ones actua...
Dec 30, 2024Crack Identification FAQs
What kind of crack is that? Common questions about identifying vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and stair-step foundation...
Dec 30, 2024Diagonal Foundation Cracks: What They Mean
Found a diagonal crack running from my basement window to the corner. Here's what I learned about diagonal foundation cr...
Dec 30, 2024Hairline Foundation Cracks: When to Ignore Them
Found hairline cracks in my basement and panicked. Bought a $180 crack repair kit I never used. Here's what I learned ab...
Dec 30, 2024Horizontal Foundation Cracks: When to Actually Worry
Horizontal foundation cracks are the ones that actually matter. I watched my neighbor Roger ignore one for two years. He...
Dec 30, 2024Old vs New Cracks: What the Age Tells You
Is that foundation crack from 1978 or last month? How to tell old, dormant cracks from new, active ones. The signs that...
Dec 30, 2024Poured Concrete Foundation Cracks: My House, My Experience
My house has a poured concrete foundation built in 1978. Here's everything I've learned about the cracks I've found and...
Dec 30, 2024Poured vs Block Foundation: How They Crack Differently
Comparing crack patterns in poured concrete versus concrete block foundations. Different construction means different fa...
Dec 30, 2024Shrinkage Cracks: The Most Common Foundation Crack
Paid a structural engineer $350 to tell me my foundation cracks were just shrinkage. Here's what I learned about the mos...
Dec 30, 2024Stair-Step Foundation Cracks: What They Actually Mean
Stair-step cracks in block foundations follow the mortar joints in a zigzag pattern. Here's what I learned when my in-la...
Dec 30, 2024Vertical Foundation Cracks: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
When I found a vertical crack in my basement, I thought my house was falling apart. Three contractors later, I learned t...
Dec 30, 2024