Most people notice the crack before they notice anything else. It might appear above a bedroom window, run through a mortar joint or follow the line of the bricks. Sometimes it has clearly been there for years. Other times it seems to appear quite suddenly and leaves homeowners wondering whether it is something serious.
The truth is that cracks can develop for a number of different reasons. In some cases, the movement happened a long time ago and the crack has simply become more noticeable over time. In others, the brickwork may still be moving, which is why the cause is often more important than the crack itself.
We’ve looked at properties where a small crack turned out to be nothing more than a localised issue, and others where the brickwork was telling a much bigger story. That’s why it rarely makes sense to assume the same repair will work in every situation.
Before any work is considered, it helps to understand what has caused the cracking in the first place. Once that becomes clear, it is much easier to decide what, if anything, needs to be done.
If you’ve spotted cracking above a window and you’re unsure whether it’s simply cosmetic or something that deserves a closer look, getting a second opinion can often provide peace of mind.
