Q. What do you mean by Settlement Cracks?

Settlement cracks normally take place in diagonal position. Sometimes vertical cracks may also take place (Figure (a)). Settlement cracks start from the top bottom or end of the wall. Crack due to differential settlement may take place if the top end of the wall has settled more than the rest of the building.

Cracks developed due to other reasons (not settlement) will be irregular as shown in Figure (b).

Cracks may develop in buildings due to other factors like thermal changes, bad construction, faulty placement of concrete etc.