How bad is this crack? I just noticed it today but I assume it’s been there a while and happened after an earth earthquake we had a few months ago.
Is this something I can just fill in with mortar and keep an eye on?
I plan on reaching out to our insurance company to see if they’ll pay for it but if not we’re pretty strapped for cash at the moment.
That just looks like weathering. I have some similar cracks (… that I really do need to get to sooner or later…), it just needs repointed to prevent further water intrusion (take out the old mortar and put new mortar in).
I would not bother your insurance company with this.
That’s a huge relief. The stairstep pattern following the big crack had me worried.
Thank you so much!
Not OP, nor a builder.
Why not get a professional to take a look? Cost would be nothing compared to the potential risk and peace of mind.
One thing I’ve learned since becoming a home owner ~5 years ago… There’s a lot of stuff on the Internet that tries to get you to a point of hysteria.
https://www.premiumwaterproofing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/stairstep-cracks.jpg
https://www.du-west.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bulog1-1920w.jpg
This is the kind of stair step crack you need to worry about. It’s a big gap, many blocks, etc. It’s a sign part of your foundation is sinking.
What you have is a block missing some mortar and a crack below (which can happen if water gets into the block … which happens when you’re missing mortar). You can have someone look at it, but I think an honest contractor would tell you “get it repointed or do it yourself, keep an eye on it.”