Quality Foundation Repair Austin inspecting a vertical crack running through brick beside a window.
Problem Sign

Cracked Bricks

Cracks in exterior bricks are a sign of uneven foundation settling and can lead to more serious structural problems if left unchecked.

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What this symptom means

Cracked Bricks: Diagnosed and Explained

In Central Texas, the cause is usually one of two things: expansive Blackland clay swelling and shrinking under the home with every wet-dry cycle, or the moisture and drainage conditions that come with it. The specific pattern and location of what you're seeing is what tells us which one it is.

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Signs the Problem Is More Than Cosmetic

Cracked Bricks at a Quality Foundation Repair Austin inspection
01

Stair-Step Cracks Following Mortar Joints

The classic diagonal stair-step pattern is the most reliable indicator of differential settlement. The direction and taper identify the settling corner.

02

Cracks at Building Corners

Vertical or diagonal cracks at exterior corners indicate shear between the two walls meeting there.

03

Multiple Cracks in One Zone

Isolated cracks may be thermal. When several appear within the same section of exterior, foundation movement beneath is the likely cause.

Root causes

What Causes This Problem?

Not every instance is foundation-related, but in Central Texas, it usually is. Here's what we rule in or out on inspection.

Foundation Settlement Beneath the Cracked Section

Differential settlement racks the wood frame diagonally, pulling the attached veneer into the same geometry.

Veneer Tie Failure

Metal ties connect brick to the frame. If they corrode or were poorly spaced, the veneer can crack on its own as it separates from the backing.

Thermal Expansion and Contraction

Brick expands when heated and contracts when cooled. Long runs without expansion joints can crack vertically at corners or regular intervals.
Cracked Bricks at a Quality Foundation Repair Austin inspection
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Regional context

Cracked Bricks and Central Texas Clay

Austin's expansive Blackland clay shrinks in dry summers and swells after rain, cycling in volume with every wet and dry season. Homes built on this clay can experience ongoing movement as the soil expands and contracts. Where that movement shows up depends on the home and foundation type.

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Wet season
Clay swells and lifts the slab edge
Drought
Clay shrinks and the slab settles
What we do about it
Steel push piers made in house for slabs. Adjust-A-Piers for pier and beam, adjustable later if the ground moves again.
"It's the diagonal cracks in the brick and the mortar stair steps that really say that there's a serious foundation issue."
Why QFR

Why Choose Quality Foundation Repair Austin

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Central Texas homeowners
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Our own team installs every pier
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Inspection at your home, no obligation
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Frequently Asked Questions

Uneven foundation settlement putting stress on the masonry.

Where we work

Areas We Serve

Proudly serving homeowners across Central Texas.

Service Areas (all 54 cities)
How we work

What to Expect

Step 01

Free Inspection

A specialist from our own crew visits your home, evaluates the foundation, and explains what we find. Free for homeowners, no obligation.

Step 02

Written Estimate

You get a clear written plan with the repair that fits the problem, explained before any work begins.

Step 03

Repair to Maximum Practical Level

Steel push piers or Adjust-A-Piers are installed, the foundation is stabilized to its maximum practical level, and the warranty that applies to your job is stated in writing on the estimate.

Our reputation

4.9 Across 616 Reviews

Central Texas homeowners rate us on Google. Here's what backs that rating up.

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Where To Find Us

Three Locations Across Central Texas

Proudly serving Austin and the surrounding region with foundation repair and house leveling.

Austin, TX HQ
Quality Foundation Repair Austin - House Leveling Specialists
8240 Georgian Dr, Austin, TX 78753
(737) 260-7340 View on Google Maps
Round Rock, TX
Quality Foundation Repair Austin - House Leveling Specialists
551 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 601-8329 View on Google Maps
San Antonio, TX
Quality Foundation Repair
2186 Jackson Keller Rd Suite 2130, San Antonio, TX 78213
(210) 888-0118 View on Google Maps