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Savannah Foundation

Serving Savannah and nearby areas

Cracks in Brick and Stucco in Savannah, GA

Cracks in brick or stucco in Savannah can be harmless or a sign the house is moving, so get a free inspection and a written price before you patch them.

Call now: (912) 771-1041 or book your free inspection online

Book a free foundation inspection

Tell us what you are seeing. A local specialist calls you back the same business day.

Local to Savannah

We connect property owners in Savannah and nearby areas, including Historic District, Victorian District, Thomas Square and Midtown, Ardsley Park, Isle of Hope and Thunderbolt, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.

  • Old brick, old mortar

    The Historic Savannah Foundation describes the Historic District as full of grey brick houses on raised basements. Brick that old was laid in soft lime mortar, which wears away over time.

  • Hard mortar can break old brick

    The National Park Service says new mortar must be softer than the brick around it. Mortar that is too hard can make old brick crack and flake, and that damage is hard to undo.

  • Historic district review

    In the Savannah Historic District, brick repointing and stucco repair are listed as staff review items on the 2026 Historic District Board of Review application. Plan for that step before the work starts.

What it costs

Typical published ranges for Savannah. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.

WorkTypical range
Crack check and written estimate Free
Repoint brick (new mortar) $3 to $15per sq ft
Stucco repair, most jobs $600 to $2,662
Seal or fill a foundation crack $200 to $1,000
Foundation repair in Savannah, if the house is moving $2,200 to $23,300

See typical foundation repair prices in Savannah

What the cracks look like

Not every crack means the same thing. The shape, the width and whether it grows tell you most of the story.

Stair-step cracks

That follow the mortar lines in brick, going up like steps.

Straight up and down cracks

In brick, often near a corner.

Cracks from window and door corners

In stucco, running at an angle.

Spiderweb cracks

In stucco, thin and spread out.

Mortar that crumbles

Or falls out of the joints.

Brick that flakes

Or has its face popped off.

A crack wider at one end

Than the other.

One side of a crack higher

Than the other side.

Gaps

Where brick meets a window frame or door frame.

Why brick and stucco crack in Savannah

The ground under the house moves a little. The Chatham County plan calls the county flat, with soil that drains poorly and water close to the top. Soil that stays soaked loses strength. If one side of a house is wetter than the other, that side can settle more. Brick and stucco are stiff. They do not bend, so they crack.

The brick and mortar are old. The Historic District is known for its grey brick houses on raised basements. Old brick was laid in soft lime mortar. Damp air and rain wear that mortar away over many years. Once the joints open up, water gets in and the cracks grow.

Old repairs can cause new cracks. The National Park Service warns that new mortar must be softer than the brick. Hard modern mortar on old, soft brick can make the brick crack and flake. In older Savannah homes, a bad patch job from years ago is sometimes the real cause.

Water does the rest. A downspout that dumps on a wall, a gutter that overflows, or soil that slopes toward the house keeps one area wet. The Park Service says the source of the water must be fixed first, or the mortar will keep failing.

Cosmetic or a moving house?

Usually cosmetic:

  • Hairline cracks thinner than about 1/16 inch that do not grow.
  • Thin cracks at stucco window corners that have been there for years.
  • Mortar worn down evenly across an old wall from age.

Get it checked:

  • Stair-step cracks that are long or keep getting longer.
  • Stucco cracks wider than about 1/8 inch, or any crack a quarter inch or wider.
  • Groups of cracks in the same wall.
  • A crack wider at the top or bottom than the middle.
  • One side of the crack sitting higher than the other.
  • Cracks that come with sticking doors or sloping floors.
  • Brick bowing out from the wall.
  • New cracks right after a big storm or flood.

What the fix usually is

There are two parts, and the order matters.

  1. Stop the movement. If the house is settling, the crew fixes that first. That may mean new piers, new supports under the house, or better drainage.
  2. Fix the water. Gutters, downspouts and grading get fixed so the wall stays dry.
  3. Repair the brick. Bad joints are cleaned out and refilled. This is called repointing. On old brick, the mortar should be soft enough not to harm it.
  4. Repair the stucco. Cracks are cut open, filled and finished to match.
  5. Replace broken brick. Cracked or flaking brick is swapped for a match.

If the crack is old and the house is not moving, step one may not be needed. The inspection tells you which case you have. The cost table on this page shows typical ranges from national cost guides and a Savannah cost study. They are not quotes.

What to do before the inspection

Photograph each crack

With a ruler or coin next to it.

Mark the ends

In pencil and write the date.

Check again in a month

Note if any crack got longer or wider.

Look for water

At that spot, like a downspout or a puddle after rain.

Do not patch yet

A fresh patch hides whether the crack is still moving.

Ask about the district

If you live in the Historic District, plan for the review step.

Frequently asked questions

Are stair-step cracks in brick always a foundation problem?

Not always, but they are the crack pattern most tied to settling. A short stair-step crack that has not changed in years may be old. A long one, a wide one, or one that keeps growing means part of the house is likely moving.

How wide is too wide for a crack?

Guides differ a little. A stucco repair guide calls cracks thinner than about 1/16 inch surface cracks and cracks over 1/8 inch structural. A home guide says cracks a quarter inch or wider, or groups of cracks, point to a possible problem with the structure. Any crack that keeps growing should be checked.

Why does my stucco crack at the corners of windows?

Window and door corners are weak spots, so stress shows there first. Small hairline cracks are common and often cosmetic. Cracks that widen, spread or come with sticking windows can mean the wall is moving.

Can I just fill the cracks myself?

You can seal small, stable cracks to keep water out. But patching a crack in a moving wall only hides it. On old brick, the wrong mortar can damage the brick. Find out why it cracked first.

Do I need approval to repair brick in the Historic District?

The Historic District Board of Review application lists brick repointing and stucco repair as staff review items. Check with the preservation staff at the planning office before work begins. A crew that works in the district should know the steps.

Will fixing the foundation close the cracks?

Sometimes part way. Lifting or supporting the house stops the crack from growing. Brick and stucco usually still need repair after, with mortar or stucco that matches.

Get your cracks checked for free

A crack is a question, not an answer. Call (912) 771-1041 or send the short form. A local crew will tell you if the house is moving, and you get a written price before any work starts.

Other services

Common foundation repair problems in Savannah

Areas we serve around Savannah

(912) 771-1041 Free inspection