Step cracking at a window corner in new brickwork
A stair pattern crack in a new wall is worth understanding before it is patched.
In short: Step cracking found at a front window on a Gables home at handover.
What step cracking looks like
A crack that follows the mortar joints in a staircase pattern, often from the corner of an opening.
Where we found it
On a Gables handover in December 2025, at the corner of a front window in new brickwork.
Possible causes
Movement in the footing, a missing or misplaced articulation joint, or a lintel not bearing correctly. The pattern alone does not decide it.
How an investigation narrows it
Measuring the width and length, checking joint locations against the plans, reading the footing and drainage, and rechecking over time.
What happens next
Depending on the cause, a joint added, an engineer's assessment or monitoring before any cosmetic repair.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Gables. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
