Repair a cracked masonry wall using helical pin/crack-stitching reinforcement

Steps

1. Diagnose the cause of the crack (differential settlement, thermal movement, corroding embedded metal, seismic) before selecting stitching, since stitching stabilizes a crack but does not fix an active movement source.
2. Select a helical-tie crack-stitching system with current code-recognition documentation (e.g., an ICC-ES evaluation report) appropriate to the masonry type and load, following that system's published bar spacing, embedment, and grout requirements.
3. Cut or rake horizontal bed-joint slots extending well past each side of the crack at the manufacturer's specified vertical spacing along the crack height.
4. Install the helical bar in a compatible grout per the manufacturer's data sheet, fully bonding the bar into the slot.
5. Repoint the disturbed bed joints to match the surrounding historic mortar color and profile so the repair is visually concealed.
6. Have a structural engineer confirm crack stitching alone is sufficient, or whether additional bracing, shoring, or foundation work is also required.