Cracks are normal. Movement is not. We evaluate the foundation, read the cracking pattern and tell you plainly whether it needs an engineer.
Not all cracking means the same thing. Vertical shrinkage cracking in poured concrete is ordinary. Horizontal cracking in a block wall means lateral soil pressure, and stair-step cracking with displacement means differential settlement. The pattern is the diagnosis.
What different cracking patterns actually tell us.
Narrow vertical cracking from the concrete curing. Common, usually monitored rather than repaired.
Horizontal cracking and bowing in block walls, caused by soil and water pressure outside.
Stair-step cracking with displacement, where one part of the structure has moved relative to another.
Baltimore metro, the Washington DC suburbs, Frederick County, Northern Maryland and South-Central PA.
Commonly booked together, because these systems affect each other.
Water entry, foundation movement and finished-space concerns.
Moisture, framing, insulation and pests under the floor.
Find the source, the moisture path and the hidden damage.
Covering, flashing, drainage and the remaining service life.
A full evaluation of the structure and every major system, for buyers and sellers.
Catch builder defects before the final walkthrough and closing.
Call Doug and the team on (410) 925-2088 or email clientcare@mdhi.com with anything else.
Most cracking is not. What matters is the pattern, the width, whether there is displacement and whether it is still moving. We tell you which category the property falls into.
No. We are inspectors, not engineers. When the findings warrant it, we say so clearly and recommend a licensed structural engineer for the analysis and repair design.
Water. Poor grading, downspouts discharging at the foundation and clay soils that swell and shrink account for the majority of what we document.
Book a foundation inspection or a full property inspection today.
