I found a step crack on the brick wall of my home under the window

A stair-step crack running through the mortar joints of your brick under a window usually means the foundation below that corner has settled or shifted. It is a structural signal, not just cosmetic brick. Most repairs in this category start with crack injection at $1,000 to $3,000, and stabilization with carbon-fiber straps runs $850 each, but the real fix depends on why that corner moved. We come look for free and price it after we see it.

Why the crack follows the stairs

Brick does not crack in a straight diagonal by accident. When a corner of the foundation drops or rotates, the wall above has to go somewhere, so it tears along the weakest path. That path is the mortar between the bricks. You get that stepped pattern climbing up and out from the low corner.

The spot under a window matters too. A window is an opening, which is a weak point in the wall. So when a wall is under stress, the crack often starts at the corner of the window and steps away from it. Seeing it there does not make it worse. It is just where the wall gave first.

What is moving down below

Here is the part most folks miss. The trouble is rarely the brick. It is the dirt.

When your house was built, the crew dug a hole, poured the foundation, then pushed the dirt back in around it. That backfill is looser than the ground that was never touched. It drains slowly. It holds water. Over years it settles unevenly, and in New Hampshire our freeze-thaw winters make it worse. Water in that fill freezes, expands, and frost heave pushes on the wall. Settle on one side, push on another, and the brick up top cracks.

So when you find a step crack, we want to know two things. Is the foundation settling down, or is a wall being pushed in? The fix is different for each.

How we fix it

We do not jump to the biggest repair. A lot of cracks are stable and just need to be sealed and watched.

For a foundation crack that is letting water or air through, we use crack injection with epoxy or polyurethane. That runs $1,000 to $3,000 and carries a 10-year warranty. If the wall is bowing or cracking from pressure, carbon-fiber straps hold it flat. Those run $850 each with a 25-year warranty on the stabilization. For a wall that needs more muscle, a power brace runs $1,300 per brace.

If the corner is actually sinking, that is a footing problem, and brick patching alone will keep cracking. We lift and stabilize with helical or push piers. Helical piers run $2,700 per pier for the first three, then $2,200 per pier after that and come with a 25-year engineered warranty. We install those in-house, our own crew, no outside outfit.

You may not need any of that. If the crack is hairline, dry, and has not moved in years, we will tell you to leave it alone and check it again later. We would rather teach you what to watch for than sell you a repair you do not need.

When to call sooner

Get eyes on it faster if the crack is wider than a nickel is thick, if water comes through after rain, if a door or window near it sticks, or if the gap keeps growing. Those say the corner is still moving. A crack that has stopped is a different conversation than one that is active.

Cracks in masonry over openings are a known structural concern, and a real inspection beats a guess. The Insurance Information Institute notes that gradual foundation settling is usually not covered by a standard homeowners policy, so catching it early protects your wallet too.

Get a real look at it

We give a free inspection and a free estimate, and you get the quote within 24 hours. We will tell you whether it is cosmetic or structural, and we will not pad the job. Financing is available through Hearth, subject to approval, and we make nothing on it.

Call us at 603-610-1770 or book your free inspection and we will read that crack for you.

Learn more about our structural and foundation repair, our foundation repair options, helical piers, and supplemental support. Every repair is backed by the 603 guarantee.

Related questions

Is a step crack in brick serious? It can be. A stepped crack through mortar usually points to foundation movement underneath. A hairline, dry, stable crack may just need sealing. An active, widening, or wet crack needs a structural look. We inspect for free and tell you which one you have.

Can a step crack be repaired without replacing the wall? Almost always yes. Most cracks are handled with injection at $1,000 to $3,000, carbon-fiber straps at $850 each, or piers at $2,700 per pier for the first three, then $2,200 per pier after that if the corner is sinking. Full wall rebuilds are rare, and we price that after we see it.

Does homeowners insurance cover foundation cracks? Usually not for gradual settling, per the Insurance Information Institute. Sudden covered events can be different. Check your policy, and catch movement early so it stays a small repair.

How fast can you come look? We schedule free inspections across New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, and you get your written quote within 24 hours of the visit.