Vert. crack in brick above garage (middle)

[David P. Valley]

It looks like this...

[rwand1]

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/12164.shtml

[William J. Decker]

Note the differential cracking ans spacing of the brick to the left of the keystone and lower mortar loss. I would say that this is incidative of downward bowing of the lintel. Check lintal size and call an SE.

[Patrick Bolliger]

One thing I was thinking too , Will, since this house is on a hill it is most likely a cut and fill lot.
You have to wonder about the soils in the fill area of the lot.
Was the soil compacted and or what relation does it have to the direction of the garage door.

Erica , sorry if I am adding more ingredients to the soup here but which way is the garage door facing with respect to the picture and the hill?
In other words is the slope (downward side) to the right side of the picture? Building settlement issues perhaps.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I thought I have answered this before, and my conclusion would be the same.

The keystone in this case caused the cracking with the lack of a steel lintel and should be evaluated by a Mason Contractor of an SE.

Marcel

[Erica]

Sorry for the delayed response. I cannot see the lintel from the inside at all- all i see is a garage door and hardware. I felt behind the garage frame cover and i felt something, but could not be sure what it was.

The lenth of the front of the home sits on the upper part of the slope. (image should give you a general idea)

I have submitted the warrently claim and am waiting to hear back from them. I will keep you posted on the response.

[rwand1]

If it is brick veneer you will only be able to see the lintel from the exposed area. You should not be able to see the lintel from inside as the wood framing would cover it.

[rrichards2]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Erica,

This was already brought up, but let's makes sure that there is a lintel installed before we go any further.

Right under the brick (where that white strip is) (see my pic) there should be an angled metal bar sitting under this bottom layer of brick that stretches across this garage door opening.
Attachment 2360

You should be able to view this lintel from inside the garage (with the door closed).

I agree...from the picture it looks like there is no steel lintel supporting the brick or they hid it well. If there is one there it may be a little undersized for the width of opening and the amount of brickwork being supported above it hence the slight deflection and crack.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I would hope that the undersized steel lintel support for this opening was found, for the keystone in this horizontal placement with the soldier coursing is not supporting anything worthwhile.

Marcel