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Wichita Falls Foundation

Serving Wichita Falls and nearby areas

Cracks in Brick Walls in Wichita Falls, TX

Cracks in brick walls in Wichita Falls often mean the ground under that wall moved, and a free inspection tells you if it is still moving and what it takes to fix.

Call now: (940) 468-1786 or book your free inspection online

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Local to Wichita Falls

We connect property owners in Wichita Falls and nearby areas, including Floral Heights, Faith Village, Tanglewood, Burkburnett, Iowa Park and Electra, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.

  • Clay that cracks deep

    USDA says Tillman soil, common around Wichita Falls, can crack more than 4 feet deep when it dries out. Brick walls sit right on top of that movement.

  • Hot, dry summers

    Wichita Falls hits 100 degrees on about 28 days in a normal year. In 2011 it hit 100 degrees on 100 days.

  • Lots of older brick

    More homes in Wichita Falls were built in the 1950s than in any other decade, and more than a third of today's homes were built before 1960.

What it costs

Typical published ranges for Wichita Falls. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.

WorkTypical range
Foundation inspection and written estimateThrough Wichita Falls Foundation Free
Repointing mortar $3 to $20per sq ft
Tuckpointing, walls 8 feet or lower $5 to $10per sq ft
Brick wall crack repair $20 to $60per sq ft
Piers, if the wall is still moving $1,000 to $3,000each

See typical foundation repair prices in Wichita Falls

What brick cracks look like

Brick is strong but stiff. It cannot bend when the ground under it moves, so it cracks. On a Wichita Falls home, the cracks usually show up in a few shapes:

Stair-step cracks

The crack follows the mortar joints up and over, like a set of stairs. This is the classic sign that one end of the wall dropped or lifted.

Cracks at window and door corners

They start at the top or bottom corner of a frame and run out at an angle.

Cracked bricks, not just mortar

A crack that splits the bricks themselves means a lot of force moved through the wall.

Gaps at the frame

The brick pulls away from a window or door frame, or the caulk line stretches open.

Offset cracks

One side of the crack sits lower or sticks out further than the other.

A crack near a corner of the house

Corners are where clay dries out first in a hot summer.

Why brick cracks so often here

The soil under the wall moves. USDA soil surveys show that common soils around Wichita Falls, like Tillman clay loam and Kamay silt loam, have subsoils that are 35 to 50 percent clay. Clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry. USDA notes that Tillman soil can crack more than 4 feet deep in a dry spell.

The weather swings hard. Wichita Falls averages about 28 days a year at 100 degrees or more. In 2011 the city hit 100 days, a Texas record. Then, after years of drought, 2015 brought 50.5 inches of rain. Hot, dry spells pull moisture out of the clay along the outside walls. Big rains push it back in. Brick veneer sits right on top of that movement.

Many homes are old enough to show it. The 1950s were the busiest building decade in Wichita Falls, and more than a third of the homes standing today were built before 1960. Decades of wet and dry cycles add up, and old mortar is often softer and more worn.

Water at one corner. A downspout that dumps next to the wall, a flower bed that stays wet, or a big tree on one side can make one part of the wall move more than the rest.

Cosmetic or urgent?

Usually cosmetic:

  • A thin crack in the mortar that has not changed in years
  • Small cracks in one or two bricks with no other signs
  • Worn, sandy mortar with no clear crack pattern

Worth an inspection soon:

  • Stair-step cracks that are getting longer or wider
  • Cracks you can slide a coin into
  • Cracks where one side is lower than the other
  • Brick pulling away from a window or door frame
  • Brick cracks plus a sticking door or a crack inside on the same wall
  • New cracks after a long dry spell or a very wet season

Call right away:

  • A section of brick that bulges out or leans
  • Loose bricks near the top of a wall or over a door

How it usually gets fixed

The fix depends on whether the wall is still moving.

If the movement was old and has stopped, the brick can often be repaired on its own. A mason grinds out the cracked mortar and packs in new mortar. This is called repointing or tuckpointing. Broken bricks are cut out and replaced. Published guides put repointing at about $3 to $20 per square foot and brick crack repair at about $20 to $60 per square foot.

If the wall is still moving, patching the brick first is a waste of money. The inspector takes floor level readings to see how far that side of the house dropped. The usual fix is piers placed under the edge of the house along that wall. Then the house is lifted and supported, and the brick is repaired after. Published guides put piers at about $1,000 to $3,000 each.

If water is part of the cause, the plan should also fix it. That might be a gutter extension, a regraded flower bed or a drain. Otherwise the next corner may start to crack.

The ranges above are typical ranges from published cost guides, not quotes. Your price comes in writing after the free inspection.

What to do before the inspection

  1. Take a photo of each crack with a coin or ruler next to it.
  2. Mark both ends of the crack with a pencil or tape and write the date.
  3. Check the inside of the same wall for cracks or sticking doors.
  4. Look at where the downspouts on that side drain.
  5. Note when you first saw the crack and if it changes with the seasons.

That record helps the inspector tell an old, stable crack from one that is still growing. Call (940) 468-1786 or send the short form to book a free inspection.

Frequently asked questions

Are stair-step cracks in brick always a foundation problem?

Not always, but they are the most common brick sign of foundation movement. A thin crack that has not changed in years may be old settling. A crack that is getting wider, or one where the bricks on one side sit lower, points to movement that is still going on.

Can I just fill the crack with mortar or caulk?

You can, but if the ground is still moving the crack will open again, often right next to the patch. Fixing the cause first, then the brick, saves paying twice.

Why did my brick crack open in the summer and close in the spring?

The clay under many Wichita Falls homes shrinks when it dries and swells when it gets wet. A crack that opens and closes with the seasons is following that cycle.

The crack is only on the outside. Is the inside fine?

Check the same wall from inside. Look for cracks over doors and windows, a door that sticks, or a gap at the ceiling. Brick often shows movement first because it is stiff and cannot bend.

How wide is too wide?

A crack you can slide a coin into, roughly a quarter inch or more, is worth an inspection soon. So is any crack where the two sides do not line up.

Will lifting the house close the brick crack?

Lifting often closes the crack part of the way. Most brick still needs repointing or a few new bricks after. Ask whether that is in the written price.

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Common foundation repair problems in Wichita Falls

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