Settlement Cracks DFW area

[Suhag C.]

Hello BP members,

We are starting out with a single family home which is built in 2011 and barely used. However, during home inspection we found that there are settlement cracks above garage door (probably pressuring lintel). The house is still under warranty from Dr Horton and we've asked our agent to double check with seller and builder. 

Just wanted to get an opinion if this is a red flag and may be we should back out !!

[Jason Allen Taylor]

See how the courses are cut clean at the sides of the garage door? Probably not the strongest way to cross that header. 

DISCLAIMER: I am not a bricklayer or mason. I have limited experience with exterior brick.

I can tell you, though, that when drywalling over doorways, flushed seams along the sides of the doorway are prone to cracking. I would assume (with ignorance) that brickwork installed the same way would have the same trouble, being prone to cracking with normal operation of the door.

IF I am correct, then that is not a symptom of the house sinking to the center of the earth, but rather just a product of stress on that mortar joint. Simple tuck pointing would be good inexpensive maintenance. Double check with someone professionally knowledgeable, but I don't think it's matter for too much concern.