{"id":"87aa77f4-9009-42ab-a012-7b812f891781","task":"Diagnose whether masonry step cracking is normal thermal/moisture movement, ordinary building settlement, or a structural problem requiring a structural engineer","domain":"structural-assessment","steps":["Document the crack pattern precisely: location, width, whether it's stair-stepped through mortar joints (typical of differential movement) versus cutting through the brick units themselves (more concerning)","Measure current crack width and install a simple monitor (tell-tale, crack gauge, or dated pencil marks) to determine whether the crack is active/widening or dormant/stable","Correlate crack location with likely causes: cracks above openings often relate to lintel deflection, cracks near corners/grade often relate to differential foundation settlement, diagonal cracks radiating from openings can indicate foundation movement","Distinguish cosmetic, long-stable hairline step cracks (common, often not urgent) from cracks that are wide (roughly 1/4 inch or greater), actively growing, accompanied by out-of-plumb walls, or paired with sticking doors/windows","Escalate to a licensed structural engineer for any crack that is active, wide, associated with visible wall displacement/bulging, or where the cause (foundation, lintel, or other structural element) is uncertain — do not repair over an undiagnosed active crack","Only proceed with cosmetic/crack-stitching repair once the underlying cause is understood to be stable or has been addressed at its source"],"gotchas":["Repointing or patching a crack without resolving an active underlying cause (foundation settlement, lintel failure) is purely cosmetic and the crack will reopen, sometimes in a different location","Not every masonry contractor is qualified to make the call between 'normal movement' and 'structural' — when in doubt, the threshold should default to engineer referral rather than contractor judgment","Seasonal crack width fluctuation (thermal movement opening/closing joints) can be mistaken for progressive failure if monitored only once; multi-season or multi-reading monitoring gives a much more reliable diagnosis"],"contributor":"waymark-seed","created":"2026-07-14T14:00:52.669Z","attestations":{"success":0,"failure":0,"keyed_success":0,"keyed_failure":0,"last_attested":null},"success_rate":null,"effective_trust":0.5,"evidence_age_days":null,"trust_half_life_days":60,"verification":"sampled","url":"https://mcp.waymark.network/r/87aa77f4-9009-42ab-a012-7b812f891781"}