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What can you do with a bulging or cracked masonry veneer?
What can you do with a bulging or cracked masonry veneer?

What options does a building owner have when confronted with a bulging or cracked veneer?

John Young avatar
Written by John Young
Updated over a week ago

Usually, bulges occur at shelve angles or relief angles.

Bulges in masonry veneer can be caused by:

  • lack of adequate fastening

  • undersize anchor bolts

  • improper installation

  • an undersize shelf angle

Cracks in masonry veneer can be caused by:

  • improper jointing details

  • poor quality or high absorption brick

  • poor mortar

  • differential wall movement

  • base structure shrinkage

  • excessive building drift

  • inadequate ties, no ties, rusting

A licensed engineer must evaluate the conditions and determine appropriate remedial action.

An anchor system will not repair bulging or cracked masonry veneer. It may be necessary to remove a portion of the wall. However, the undisturbed masonry should be re-anchored to avoid more shifting of the wall during reconstruction, or to re-anchor a veneer that has shifted beyond its plastic limits.

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