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Stress cracks are caused by settling or stress in building materials, such as foundations, walls, and concrete barriers. They can be repaired but may reappear as buildings continue to shift and settle over time.
A stress crack is a crack in a surface caused by the stress or settling of building materials. In a wall, it is often the result of the building’s foundation settling. In a vehicle’s windshield, a crack can be the result of excessive chassis twisting when negotiating a hilly or rough surface or when too much power is applied to the tires in high-performance applications. Most stress cracks are easily repaired, but some are a sign of a much more serious problem yet to come.
In brick buildings or concrete block foundations, the sight of a stress crack is not uncommon. Through years of settling, the building will begin to flex and twist, often showing up as a crack in the mortar. In some severe settlements, the actual bricks will crack in half as the settlement progresses and becomes more severe. This most often happens around and on windows and doors.
In some poured concrete walls and barriers, large cracks can be found as the foundation settles and moves. These rarely penetrate completely through the concrete wall, but can cause the wall to crack and fall in severe cases. The use of reinforcing wire and thick steel rod helps the concrete resist succumbing to stress cracking.
The surface of the planet is constantly changing, and settling and movement in the earth’s crust often cause man-made objects to break apart over time. This is perhaps most evident in the drywall of an average home. Drywall or drywall is a soft material that is prone to cracking and breaking under stress. As the wall settles, the drywall begins to settle with it, and the panel can’t flex more than a small amount before it starts to crack. In some extreme situations, a single sheet of drywall can contain two or more cracks.
A stress crack can be repaired very easily using putty or cement, but will almost always crack again as the settlement continues. Most buildings continue to shift and settle for their entire lifespan, so cracks will reappear at stressed spots. Since very few buildings settle all at once, an area that hasn’t settled yet will likely create the repaired section of the wall once it does.
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