just built a new home, did alot of it myself and i am very happy with it. However, I have noticed two areas by the fireplace and window next to the fireplace with cracks through the brick. Today I noticed that the two bricks on the fireplace hearth have cracked,..one throught the brick and the other on its joint. What caused brick to crack through like that. The slab under neath them is not cracked there. The first palce i noticed was at the window outside…I blew it off to a little settling..now it is running the horizontal joint for 4 bricks. But the slab is not cracked there. Logically, if there is a seperation of the bricks, there should be a crack in the slab..Am I wrong? Granted, we are very dry right now..but I still want to know what causes a brick to crack down its middle..what forces are at play here.
thanks