A homeowner-friendly guide to documenting vertical, horizontal and stair-step cracks before requesting a repair evaluation.
Photograph the crack from the base to the top if possible. Include a wide image showing whether the wall panel remains aligned.
These follow mortar joints in a stepped pattern. Photograph both the close-up and the surrounding wall, especially nearby pilasters and the base.
A horizontal crack deserves context. Send a side angle that shows whether the wall is bowing or leaning and avoid pushing on an unstable wall.
Gate openings transfer loads and movement differently from an uninterrupted wall panel. Include the column, gate hardware, adjoining panel and base in the photos.
If the wall appears unsafe, keep your distance. Text photos to 623-226-0192 or call Desert Dreamco LLC for the next step.
This close side view shows damaged masonry and separation at a CMU wall section in Goodyear. A photo can document the pattern, but it does not by itself prove the underlying cause.
Use both close-up and wide photos when documenting a crack so the surrounding wall condition is visible.
Cracked wall repair details →