Settlement cracks are present in many homes even if the homeowner is unaware of it. Often these cracks occur in the first ten years of construction but can occur when extreme moisture or drought conditions present themselves. In most cases, cracks occur adjacent to the openings in the masonry veneer of a home like a window, door, or vent. Several types of cracks are step cracking which typically occurs on the mortar joint; vertical cracks that run vertically and contain cracked brick; or horizontal in the mortar joint.