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   Question    posted to Home Inspectors on 12/16/08 04:18 PM, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
My house has a brick wall on the lower level and wood siding on the upper.  
I noticed a fairly large step-wise crack running along the side of the brick wall.  It crosses a window and the window frame is tilted.  I have also seen straight lines develop in the paint in the middle of the interior walls, and round chips of paint on the seam of my pitched ceiling.

I am concerned about the crack and the structural integrity of the house.  I am not sure if I need to consult an engineer first, or a masonry contractor.  

Please let me know your recommendations and contact information.

The house is in Briarcliff Manor.

Thanks.
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Specialist Answer 1 of 3
   Answered By     Certified Inspections Incorporated, 12/16/08 04:59 PM
Certified Inspections Incorporated
2296 Maple Ave
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
914-736-3165
certified@optonline.net
View Business Info

There could be several reasons for the cracking, and it could be anything from nothing to severe. I recommend having a professional home inspector such as myself look at it.

If you are interested, you can contact me at 736-3165 to arrange an appointment.

Mark Jones, Certified Inspections.

Specialist Answer 2 of 3
   Answered By     Hudson Valley Energy Consultants, 12/17/08 08:54 AM
Hudson Valley Energy Consultants
81 Hamilton Drive
Carmel, NY 10512
914-906-8933
jpginspect@yahoo.com
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Hi - The first thing you will need to do is determine the cause of the cracking to prevent it from happening again. Windows are generally a weak link in a wall and unless the crack goes all the way to the foundation, that can be the problem. The interior cracks can be poor joints in the wallboard (sheetrock) and the holes nail pops where the coating covering the nails has loosened and fallen off. These aren't usually large problems and may not be related to the brick movement. A house is always expanding and contracting as moisture levels change, so some cracks develope where two different materials are joined because they move at different rates. Feel free to call me. I'm going out later and may be able to stop by and take a quick look.

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Specialist Answer 3 of 3
   Answered By     Centurion Home Inspection, Inc., 12/17/08 09:29 AM
Centurion Home Inspection, Inc.
25 Dahlia Dr
Mahopac, NY 10541
914-245-3335
Email Company
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From your description of the house it appears to be a wood frame building and the lower brick is likely a brick veneer.  The type of cracking noted is typical of differential setling of the foundation footing.  Whether this is serious or normal setling depends on many factors, includiing the age of the structure. 

We would be pleased to examine the property and to make recommendations as to whether further evaluation and repair design by a professional engineer is recommended. Our fee for such service is $200.00 per hour for the first hour or part thereof and $100.00 per additional half hour or part thereof.  Such inspections typically last one hour or less.

We have been performing home ispections for ove 38 years and have inpected or supervised the inspection of over 10,000 homes.  We are licensed in the states of New York and Connecticut and more importantly a Cerrtified ASHI Inspector (Americn Society of Home Inspectors) . More information regarding our company and its inspectors may ber obtained by visiting our website centurion-inspections.com or caling me at 845-628-0941.

Sincerely,

Victor J. Faggella-President

 

 

 

 

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