Help needed for Cracked stone piers and caps

4 years ago

Hello, we recently remodelled our home that included the addition of new stone piers. With the addition of 7 piers we have noticed that at least 5 of the piers have developed cracks in the base. The cracks were repaired and approximately 6 Months later the caps were installed. In less than a year, we have noticed the pier bases are cracking once again and now on 3 three pier caps have cracked as well.

i have questioned the structural engineer, and architect who say they have never seen this and don‘t have a solution for me. The mason claims something is moving. BTW, the piers are solid with stone and cement. There was also extra strong mortar used. this cracking occurred this summer before any freezing had occurred. Now I am concerned going into winter that we could experience more cracking.

Any opinions on how serious this is and what kind of specialist I should contact for repair?

Thanks, everyone!

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Comments (5)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
4 years ago
Your mason is correct; something is moving and whoever designed and/or executed the pier decided to fight, instead of accommodate, that movement.

I''m betting the inside radii of your cap cuts are nonexistent. Someone tried to get a perfect fit around that post and created a stress riser that lead to the crack. The super-duper mortar held the cap in place when it should have allowed it to move before failing.

I'd like to see the details the archy drew and see if the mason followed them or not.
joanheath thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
4 years ago
As far as a repair goes, Bonstone makes weatherproof adhesives that may bond that crack inconspicously, but the caps are going to have to be removed. The archy should have specified another perpendicular cap joint and a soft mortar so the joint would move before cracking the stone.
joanheath thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
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HU-867564120
4 years ago
Ditto Joseph, the corner radii and inability to accommodate movement are the main factors here.
joanheath thanked HU-867564120
joanheath
Original Author
4 years ago
Joseph Corlett you bring up some very valid points. i went and looked over the drawings a noticed a few things. the pier detail specified was for full two story height piers. we changed that to only have 2’ high stone piers and then 8x8 posts.

the changed was noted in the design however, in looking at the pictures i dont see that the piers are attached to the footings. The 8x8 posts are just sitting on the footings. there is no metal bracket attaching the post to the footing.

Also, the mason filled the cavity with broken bricks and mortar. After the first cracking he then used a very firm mortar so it wouldnt crack again, which it did crack again with the caps. Type s cement was recommended.

The circled piers are all the ones that cracked. the red ones have cracked again along with the caps this summer which have been installed just over a year.
3onthetree
4 years ago
All the masonry piers need to be removed and the posts properly fastened to the foundation with a post base.

When rebuilding, consider the height of all the back basement and side deck piers to be even, up to the first floor/just below the deck. On the front, maybe the height of the waterline on the bedroom bumpout (realize in back you eliminated that option, but poured concrete would have been difficult and expensive - just do veneer this time).