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When you know what to look for, your home’s exterior can tell you a lot about what is happening with the structure Over time, any house develops characteristics, and if you have a keen eye, you can spot when something is wrong, from moving and settling to foundation issues.

It Needs Some Extra Protection

There are some obvious signs that a home needs some extra protection against the elements, including the sun. Cracked and blistered paint can indicate more than a simple dry aesthetic issue, and often means the exterior has lost the ability to protect what’s underneath. When this happens, it helps to call local roofing, siding, and gutter experts who can check the problems and prevent moisture from entering the home’s materials, which can cause costly issues.

There’s Moving and Settling

Believe it or not, houses do indeed move and settle, and they typically do this because of thermal expansion. It isn’t usually anything to worry about, and there’s not much you can do anyway. However, there are some telltale signs that there has been an excess that is causing problems with your home. Hairline and diagonal cracks in the brick and masonry are normal too, but when they are wider than 5mm, it could indicate the structure has been compromised.

Your Home’s Exterior Has a Moisture Issue

Moisture problems are very common, and even 20% of newbuild homes face water issues. So, that crack in your chimney may be more than the peeling and could indicate a moisture issue. However, one of the most obvious signs is white staining that appears powdery and fluffy on the masonry and bricks. These are the salts that deposit when water evaporates, and it is a clear sign that there is far too much water in places where water really shouldn’t be in your home.

Water is Threatening the Foundation

Gutters and downspouts are designed to move water away from your home and into a drainage area where the threat is carried away. However, neglected drainage allows water to damage the home, and the signs are usually pretty obvious. One of the worst problems affecting a waterlogged home is a sagging foundation. You can typically tell if this is happening if the gutters are coming away from the fittings and there is rising damp inside the home.

The Structure is Beginning to Fail

Masonry walls are typically covered with render that helps with insulation, style, and moisture control. Of course, you may want to expose a brick wall on purpose for décor reasons, and that’s fine when done properly. However, if the render on your existing brick walls sounds hollow or is separating from the masonry, it is a sign that too much moisture has entered the gap between them, and this can lead to further problems as the water builds up inside.

Summary

Cracked and blistered walls are an indication that your home’s exterior is telling you it has lost its original protection. However, there could also be a major moisture issue if there are cracks wider than 5mm, and masonry is beginning to fail when the render is beginning to separate.