Gap Between Exterior Brick or Stone Veneer and the Main Structure

A visible vertical or stepped gap where the exterior brick, stone, or stucco veneer meets the rest of the home indicates one side of the structure is settling away from the veneer, or vice versa. The gap often grows noticeably between inspections.

This is common on NJ homes built on mixed soils where one portion of the footing bears on native material and another on fill. The affected section needs underpinning to arrest movement before the veneer fails and creates a water-intrusion pathway.