What is likely happening
Cracks can come from normal movement, corroding steel behind the masonry, failed ties, or water getting in. Diagonal, widening, or stepped cracks, or cracks with rust staining, deserve a professional look.
What you can safely check
- Photograph the cracks with something for scale and date the photos.
- Watch whether they are growing.
What an inspector will look at
- Crack pattern and cause
- Steel lintels and relieving angles
- Ties and anchorage
- Water entry
Does this affect compliance?
Cities with facade ordinances (such as NYC, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and others) require periodic facade inspections and repair of unsafe conditions.
When it becomes urgent
Urgent if pieces are loose or the crack is bulging outward.
We can help with this
Facade and exterior wall inspection is something Insparisk does nationwide. To see the local rules for your building, open this in the interactive Problem Solver.
Request facade and exterior wall inspectionTalk to an advisorGeneral guidance only, not a substitute for a licensed inspection or emergency services. For any gas odor, carbon monoxide alarm, fire, or trapped occupant, call 911 first.