Small cracks rising from the front door ?

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

You can not and will not ever be able to determine the cause of all the defects we encounter, especially in the short amount time we are in the home. If it becomes enough of a concern, recommend the appropriate Trade to diagnose the problem.

Houses have cracks, 50 year old Houses in California have cracks.

If there are no other visible signs of problems, IMO fix the cracks and move on.

To speculate IMO is a waste of time.

I bet the Home Owner had an Angry Spouse that slammed the door a lot, recommend Zoloft and some soft music.

That is all very true, but is there anything wrong with learning via discussion on the MB? Knowledge is power!!!

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

...To speculate IMO is a waste of time.

For me it's recreational. I can't not do it. Even if, for liability reasons, I don't tell the clients what I'm thinking, I still do it.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by kshepard

For me it's recreational. I can't not do it. Even if, for liability reasons, I don't tell the clients what I'm thinking, I still do it.

And for some of us, it could be considered an illness!

I was at the old Red Wing Pottery Factory building, now an antique mall, this past Sunday...

While taking a break, I found myself staring at the large timber beams, with their unique cast iron beam supports. I was totally fascinated, and lost to the world.

I love historical structures!

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by jjonas

You'd be surprised Bill. I lived in SoCal for 10 years, and we got small tremors often, to the point where you didn't notice them after a while. Every now and then, you would find a new crack you never noticed before.

...and there are pockets and veins of expanding soil all over the place.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by kshepard

For me it's recreational. I can't not do it. Even if, for liability reasons, I don't tell the clients what I'm thinking, I still do it.

I know Kenton, I also do not always practice what I preach either.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

I know Kenton, I also do not always practice what I preach either.

Brian, I'm thinking it's a lot easier to preach what you already practice...

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by kshepard

Brian, I'm thinking it's a lot easier to preach what you already practice...

Good one

[David Nasser]

Thanks everybody...

David

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

It looks like a pretty typical settlement crack - no engineer necessary. It's most likely only as deep as the drywall, (based on my experience and what I can see in the photo).

[Tom Leahy]

Originally Posted by jpope

It looks like a pretty typical settlement crack - no engineer necessary. It's most likely only as deep as the drywall, (based on my experience and what I can see in the photo).

I agree based on the op stating foundation good, doors aligned, windows good, floor level!! Here in North Texas, slabs move. Unless you have a consistent and precise watering technique, which very few know how or willing, your going to get cracks above doors, below and above windows, tape joints, etc. Very common here and slab can be fine at the time. I just try to educate the client on maintaining the foundation and if they fail to do so, they will have major problems down the road.

Here's one that I recently referred out. Notice the previous repair.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

.
Normally that wall cutout next to the door will be the same high and not as close. It would have to be strengthened. for support. extra king studding.
Lets remove the jack stud only have king studs toe nail a header in place and undersize the opening. Also no criple stud and maybe we have the problem.
Did you use a stud fined to size the dimensions?
What did the foundation tell you or the second floor?

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Originally Posted by tleahy

I agree based on the op stating foundation good, doors aligned, windows good, floor level!! Here in North Texas, slabs move. Unless you have a consistent and precise watering technique, which very few know how or willing, your going to get cracks above doors, below and above windows, tape joints, etc. Very common here and slab can be fine at the time. I just try to educate the client on maintaining the foundation and if they fail to do so, they will have major problems down the road.

Here's one that I recently referred out. Notice the previous repair.

That is not a repair that is despair.
You have to cut out the broken brick. Then after the foundation is fixed insert new brick to complete a bond for strength. Easy repair. Its a common bond or running bond and the brick are easy to find when you know where to look.