Foundation Repair
Stair-step brick crack above the garage door
Springfield, TNRobertson CountyResidential2026-04-18
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The problem
A stair-step crack in the brick veneer traced back to a settled corner footing and a downspout discharging right beside it.
What the homeowner noticed
A stair-step crack running up through the mortar joints above the garage door. It had been there a couple of years, but it looked noticeably wider after a wet spring.
What Marty found
The crack was in the brick veneer, not the structural wall — but the pattern told the story. The corner of the house had settled about three quarters of an inch, and the downspout at that corner was discharging directly onto the soil beside the footing.
What we recommended
Extend the downspout and regrade the corner so water leaves the area, then stabilize the settled corner with two piers and repoint the cracked mortar.
The result
Two piers were installed at the affected corner to a depth below the active soil layer. The downspout was extended eight feet and a swale was cut to move water away from the foundation. The mortar joints were ground out and repointed to match the original.
Why this happens
Brick veneer cracks in a stair-step pattern because mortar joints are the weakest point in the wall. When the foundation below moves, the brick doesn't crack — the mortar does, following the diagonal path of least resistance.
That's why a stair-step crack is one of the most reliable signals of foundation movement. A single vertical crack is often just a control joint or a shrinkage crack and may be harmless. A stair-step crack almost always means something below has moved.
See something that doesn't look right?
Send Marty a picture.
Crack in the brick? Uneven floor? Water in the crawl space? Sinking concrete? Send a few photos and tell Marty what you're seeing. No pressure — just a straight answer from someone local.
