do I have a brick problem or window problem?

My house is 3 years old and I'm getting 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch gaps between almost all of my door and window brick moldings and the brick. They were all originally tight with the brick and caulked. On most, the gaps are across the top between the molding and lintels. I have MW windows with composite molding. The gaps across the top are uniform which makes it look like the window dropped but a few windows also have gaps opening along one side of the window. What could cause this? There does not appear to be any cracks in the brick and no cracks inside the house.

Reply to
malv
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My house is 3 years old and I'm getting 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch gaps between almost all of my door and window brick moldings and the brick. They were all originally tight with the brick and caulked. On most, the gaps are across the top between the molding and lintels. I have MW windows with composite molding. The gaps across the top are uniform which makes it look like the window dropped but a few windows also have gaps opening along one side of the window. What could cause this? There does not appear to be any cracks in the brick and no cracks inside the house.

Reply to
malv

You are probably right that the brick is not properly anchored to the wall studs and the wall is moving and could eventually fail. Another sign is stretched caulking around doors and windows.

Retrofit brick wall anchors:

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They are a PIA to install but that is what we used. Kind of like expanding molly bolts that screw into the studs and then expand in the masonry wall and then you fill the hole with mortar. Bang your brick walls and you will probably feel them vibrate. This is a permanent fixed. They were invented because eventually the cheap anchors masons use will corrode and fail but they can also be used when the anchors are missing or not into studs which is almost always true.

Reply to
Art

I'm thinking that too but still have to wonder why it's doing it only at the tops of the windows on all three levels and all four sides of the house. I would think that bad brick tie-in would be more of a local problem and not all around the house. Thanks for the reply and info on the anchors.

Reply to
malv

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