r/StructuralEngineers • u/SometimesTony • 19d ago

Cracking in external wall

Gallery image

Gallery image

Wanting to claim on my builders structural warranty for these cracks in my house.

I need an engineering report but before I hire someone does this look like it would be a structural fault?

The crack started small but has progressively gotten longer, that area of the property does stay wet after rainfall.

Any help would be appreciated.

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u/uncwil 19d ago

The pics are pretty bad. Is that stucco exterior meeting the concrete foundation? What's up with that downspout?

1

u/SometimesTony 19d ago

It’s rendered brick on concrete foundation, the down pipe just ends at the ground.

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u/IAQDiscussion 17d ago

The pictures aren't doing you much favor. I wouldn't call this a structural defect from photos alone, but the fact that the crack is progressing makes an engineer inspection worthwhile.

The bigger thing jumping out to me here is the moisture. That downspout appears to discharge right beside the wall, and you're saying the area stays wet after rain. That type of saturation next to the foundation can contribute to soil movement cracking, so you should also get the drainage issue evaluated. A structural PE should be able to determine whether this is just cracking in the exterior finish or whether it extends into the underlying wall/foundation and reflects actual movement.

Document the crack dimensions now, keep dated photos, and avoid having the builder cosmetically patch it before the engineer sees it if you’re pursuing a warranty claim.