Is This Crack Serious? Foundation Warning Signs in Tarrant County Homes

Is a hairline crack in my slab normal?

Yes. Concrete shrinks as it cures, so thin, even cracks in a slab or garage floor are expected. Two things change that: one side of the crack sitting higher than the other, or the crack widening past 1/4 inch.

What does a stair-step crack in brick mean?

A crack that zig-zags through the mortar joints means the wall's footing has moved up or down relative to the rest of the house. If it is wider at the top than the bottom, that corner is dropping.

Brick pulling away from a window or door frame, or a gap opening between the brick and the trim, points to the same movement.

Why are my doors suddenly sticking?

Foundation movement pushes door frames out of square, so the gap above the door becomes uneven and the latch misses the strike plate. One door sticking in humid weather is usually swollen wood; doors in several rooms sticking at once is usually the foundation.

Are drywall cracks a foundation problem?

Diagonal cracks running from the corners of doors and windows come from the frame shifting, which usually means foundation movement. Straight cracks along a drywall seam are usually tape failure.

Why is there a gap above my baseboards?

A gap between the baseboard and the floor means the slab under that wall has dropped. A gap between the wall and the crown molding means that part of the house has risen or the rest has dropped.

Why do cracks open in summer and close in winter?

Tarrant County's clay shrinks as it dries and swells when wet, and the house moves with it. Cracks open in late summer and partly close after fall and winter rain.

Fort Worth's permits follow the same cycle: 44 foundation permits in July 2025 and 98 in December, as the summer's damage showed up.

How do I tell if a crack is getting worse?

Pencil a line across each end of the crack, write the date next to it, and photograph it beside a ruler. Check it on the first of each month; growth past the line means active movement.

• Width: a crack a credit card slides into is about 1/32 inch; one a pencil tip fits into is near 1/4 inch
• Offset: run a fingernail across it and feel for one side sitting higher
• A plastic crack monitor (about $15) fixed across the crack shows movement to the millimeter

When should I call for a foundation inspection?

Call when you see a crack wider than 1/4 inch, any crack that grows month to month, or two or more of these signs together.

• Stair-step cracks in brick
• Doors in several rooms sticking or not latching
• Floors that slope or feel bouncy
• Gaps above baseboards or along crown molding
• Cracked floor tile
• A garage door that no longer meets the floor evenly

What happens if I ignore foundation problems?

Repairs get bigger. In Fort Worth permits, a 1–6 pier job had a median of $5,324 and a 21-plus pier job $19,000, and continued movement can crack under-slab drain lines.