12 Major Types of Cracks in Walls | Building Engineering

Types of Cracks in Walls:

1. Horizontal Crack at the Junction of Roof Slab and Masonry Wall Support
2. Vertical Cracks at Junction of R.C.C. Column and Wall Masonry
3. Cracks Due To Chemical Reactions and Preventive Measures
4. Cracks in Foundation
5. Extension of Existing Building
6. Cracking of Compound Wall
7. Horizontal Cracks in the Topmost Storey
8. Cracks in External and Internal Walls of Load-Bearing Structures
9. Random Cracks in All Directions Involving both External and Internal Walls
10. Partition Walls in Load-Bearing Structures
11. Vertical Cracks in Buildings
12. Reinforced Concrete Roofs at Different Levels

Type 1. Horizontal Crack at the Junction of Roof Slab and Masonry Wall Support:
i. Crack in load bearing wall:
Horizontal crack at the roof level of the topmost floor, below the slab, occurs due to any
of these reasons:
a. The slab undergoes alternate expansion and contraction due to change in ambient temperature.
b. Inadequate protective cover against heat on the roof, and
c. Provision of large span of the slab in the room inside, causing excessive deflection and having
not much vertical load above the support to resist uplift of the slab at the support and movement
of the of the slab is restrained on one side.
Thermal expansion of the slab initiating cracks may cause bowing up due to thermal gradient in
the slab. In such a case, the cracks will be seen from the outside, on top level of the slab; while it
will be seen at the bottom level of the slab from inside. As a preventive measure, construction of
the support of the R.C.C. on the masonry wall should be as shown in detail in Figure 3.8.