I've been living in my 1998 home for five years, and there's this strange separation showing up between the hearth bricks on the floor and the fireplace bricks. It stretches all the way from the wood trim on both sides. Recently, I've noticed some cracking in the wood trim a few feet away, although it's not as bad as what's happening at the fireplace. We keep caulking it every year, but it just cracks again. To make things weirder, we've started seeing skinks coming up from the crack in the fireplace, which is just creepy. We've been filling the gap with play sand, but it keeps settling, almost like it's disappearing down a bottomless hole. It's making strange noises too, which is unsettling. We also had a concrete patio slab crack and sink last year, and I'm wondering if these issues are connected. Could this be a sign of a hidden sinkhole? What should I do about it?
2 Answers
I can see why you'd feel unsettled with sand disappearing like that! The connection to your patio slab is something to consider, especially if it's sinking too. Cracks often indicate more extensive issues, so reaching out to a specialist seems like a smart move. They can help determine if it's just superficial or something requiring serious attention. And maybe keep that sand handy for now just in case!
I totally get why you're worried! It sounds like a good idea to get a foundation repair company to take a look at it. They can assess the situation properly. You might also want to hire a plumber to check your drain lines; they can use a video camera to see if anything's off beneath your home. It's surprising how much that can tie into what’s happening with the crack.