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How to Repair Cracks in Walls

Categories: How To Guides | Structural Repair
Author: Gregg Setherton CSSW

If you see cracks in your external walls then you may well be
worried that the structural integrity of your home is at risk.
There is no need to panic, however, as only a small amount of
cracks are symptomatic of a more serious underlying
structural problem. The majority of the time these cracks can
be easily repaired. This guide provides information around
determining the type of crack you have, what course of action
to take in particular how to repair your walls using crack
stitching. 

Repairing Cracks in Walls: What Do I Do?

Cracks appear in a wall for a number of reasons. They can
occur as a new house ‘settles’ or when the construction
materials expand and contract overtime with environmental
changes. They can also be caused when the foundations of the
house move. It is important to establish the root cause and
then to take professional advice before making a judgement as
to what action to take. Some minor cracking occurs naturally
and there is no need for concern or action although it is
always worth monitoring them closely for any change. There
are other cracks that will need some form of repair work and
others that will need more immediate and drastic attention.

Categorising Cracks 
The BRE (Building Research Establishment), who offer expert
advice for the built environment sector, produced the BRE
Digest 251 Assessment of Cracks in Houses. In this document,
they identified six categories for cracks, which they describe
along with the recommended crack repair method. You can
see the categorisations below: 
 
Usefully, the BRE link the width and number of cracks to the
appropriate type of repair. The first three types of crack - 0, 1,
2 – only require redecoration and no major work. Those cracks
described in 3 and 4 require more major work but it is only the
fifth type of crack that indicates severe structural damage and
needs urgent attention from a professional surveyor.

It is important to point out that even with smaller cracks, you

should monitor them over time in case they increase in width.
Any increase could be indicative of a more serious underlying
issue. Those cracks that emerge over a short space of time,
even small ones, are also potential causes of concern when
compared to those that have been there for years.

Consult a professional structural engineer to confirm any

diagnosis as well as an appropriate course of action. 

Important Questions
If you consult a structural engineer or building professional
they will want to know the following:
 How long have the cracks been there?
 Are they getting wider?
 Are they increasing in number?
It is worth making notes as to when any new cracks appear
and take measurements. A pencil line can be drawn across the
crack to monitor its movement.

Identifying Cracks in External Walls

There are two main types of crack that can appear in your
masonry walls – vertical and stepped.

Vertical Cracks 
Vertical cracks usually occur in foundation walls when there is
insufficient support below. The main reason for this lack of
support is when the soil beneath the foundation has not been
properly compacted and compresses or even washes away.

The following is an example of a vertical crack:

Stepped Cracks
Stepped cracks usually follow mortar joints and are most
common near the corners of buildings. They usually occur
through wall movement related to foundation movement
including subsidence.

The following is an example of a stepped crack:

 

Why Are My Walls Cracked?

Cracks in walls can occur for a number of reasons. With new
build houses, cracks can appear as the house ‘settles’
(settlement of soil due to the weight of the building). In older
properties small cracks can be fairly common as building
materials shrink overtime. We have divided the main causes of
cracked walls into structural and environmental factors: 

Structural
 Subsidence – Subsidence is the downward
movement/sinking of the ground that supports a building.
These changes in ground conditions under and around a
building can cause walls to move and cracks to appear.
Subsidence is more common in areas with clay soil (mainly
in the South of England), which can shrink in dry weather.
Sandy and silty soils in the foundations can experience
leaching when minerals get washed away. For more on
Subsidence, read this guide from the ABI.
 The shrinking, drying out and degradation of construction
materials like timber, plaster, and concrete. 
 Structural failure – if an element of your house has been
built incorrectly and subsequently fails then this can cause
cracks to appear in your home.
 Corrosion of wall ties.
 Failure or damage of timber lintels over windows and
doors.
 Mining – in former coal mining areas subsidence can
occur.  
 Heave - refers to upward ground movement as soil
expands due to an increase in moisture content. When older
trees and shrubs are removed, the ground can swell up as
the moisture the tree had previously removed builds up.  
 
Environmental

 Thermal expansion – this usually affects long or tall

brick walls and the overall superstructure of the building.
Cracks occur when the brick work is exposed to summer
heat and there is a lack of sufficient control joints or
expansion joints.
 Leaks – over time leaks can cause water to get into the
render and for walls to crack.
 Freezing – ice can affect the render.
 Decay of materials.
 Moisture and temperature changes – significant changes
in temperature and moisture like driving rain.
 Vibration from heavy traffic.
 
Internal Cracks
You may also experience the following types of internal crack
in your home:

Internal Cracks in Plaster Walls

Cracks in plaster walls can occur if the plaster dried too
quickly, if it was mixed incorrectly or as part of environmental
change (like temperature/moisture) in your home over time.
These types of cracks can be resolved with simple repairs. If
the cracks return, are more than 5mm wide and/or there are
corresponding cracks on the external wall then it could
suggest wall movement and structural issues. These will need
to be investigated.  

Cracks around Windows and Doors

If you have cracks around a window or door, then these can be
down to the failure of an old timber lintel or a shift in the
foundations. 
How to Repair Cracks in Walls
There is an inexpensive and highly effective way of repairing
cracked walls called crack stitching. With a crack stitching kit
you can repair vertical and stepped cracks to protect the
structure of your home. You will need to follow instructions
closely when repairing cracks in walls.

What is Crack Stitching?

Crack stitching is a permanent solution to cracks in masonry
walls. It involves embedding stainless steel helical bars into
horizontal slots into the mortar bed joints of your wall to
restore structural integrity.   

When do I need Crack Stitching?

If you have identified and resolved the underlying issue that is
causing the cracks in the wall to appear, you are then a
position to repair the cracks in your walls. Even if you have
smaller cracks, it is worth repairing them sooner rather than
later as water ingress from leaks or driving rain can make the
problem worse. Only once the root cause of the cracks has
been resolved you can progress with crack stitching. 

How do I Use Crack Stitching

1.  Cut a slot in the mortar bed just over 500mm either side of the vertical crack
and to the correct depth, dependent on the wall thickness (see the chart below).
Wall Depth of Depth of
Thickness Slot Bar
102mm 30mm 20mm

215mm 40mm 30mm

2.  Ensure the mortar is completely removed to reveal the top

and bottom faces of the masonry. Remove all loose material
(you can use a blow out pump) and then flush the joint with
water. Normally vertical spacing is every 4 - 6 brick courses
but check with a structural engineer if in doubt.
3.  Mix the PermaCEM Anchor Grout thoroughly using the
paddle mixer provided and load into the gun. Pump the grout to
the back of the slot in a continuous even bead to
approximately two thirds of the slot depth.
4.  Push the helical bar firmly into the grout, making sure that
the bar extends 500mm either side of the crack.

5. Apply a second bead of grout into the slot making sure that
the bar is completely covered and with the trowel provided
force the grout into the slot until it is approximately 10mm
from the surface and ensuring that the bar and grout are firmly
packed.

6. Finish by making good the bed joint and filling the vertical
crack with an appropriate filler to match.

Read our full How to Guide on Crack Stitching.

Tips
If two or more cracks are close together then bars can be
lapped (overlapped) ensuring that the bar extends 500mm
either side of the outer cracks and that the laps are at least
500mm.
Helical bars should be bent and bonded at least 100mm
around corners when cracks are within 500mm of the corner
or a reveal etc. This system can be used for rendered or
plastered walls.
Crack Stitching Products: What I Need to Repair
Cracks in Walls
Permagard sell specialist crack stitching kits, which provide
all you need to repair cracks in your wall. Our kits contain
helical spiral bars, special grout, a mixing paddle, a mortar
gun with nozzles as well as a trowel. Permagard offer both a
standard crack-stitching kit and a heavy-duty kit for larger
cracks.
Permacem Grout – grout the steel bars into place using
Permacem Grout. This shrink compensated grout with added
polymer additives which sets around the helical bar and
develops compressive strength rapidly to prevent axial
deflection of the helical bar under load conditions.
Products 
1. Crack stitching kits
2. Heavy duty Crack Stitching
Permagard – Over 30 years’ property maintenance
experience
Permagard are proud of our technical team who are available
to advise you on all aspects of crack stitching. Whether you
are a specialist installer or want help with installation our
technical advisors are here to help. Give us a call today on
01179 982 3282.

Further Reading
What are Helical Bars?
How to Guide: Crack Stitching
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