Lengthy crack on garage floor

[PandG]

Is it normal to have a very long crack across the garage floor of a newly-built home? At our walk-through inspection (on Aug. 13th), I asked the builder about this. He said this is a "superficial" crack, and that it is mentioned on our contract this may occur.

That contract is buried among the various paper piles right now, and I can't find it. I don't remember this being mentioned as a possibility when we signed the papers. Does anyone else remember this being mentioned to them?

The crack has been filled and is smooth. But it is unsightly and runs from the side wall across the front of the garage wall, before you walk into the house. Is this cause for concern, or just one of those things that can happen? I'm also concerned about what potential problems, if any, this could cause in the future.

Thanks,
Gail

[keithwand]

We had a long crack from the MBR french doors all the way through the closet into the shower drain.
Told this was "normal".
My neighbor saw it just before the carpet was laid and called that no repair had been made.
Builder when I called said it had been epoxied before the carpeting was put down at 9A.
Somehow I doubt his "story" so we will be watching the tile in the bathroom for any signs.

[graciegirl]

We had a hairline crack in home in Hadley and had one in this new home.

OMG...a sinkhole beginning.:(:22yikes::rant-rave:I admit it scared me.

When checking with others who live not only here but on slabs everywhere...which is new to us, this happens apparently due to the ground settling.

If you have cracks in your garage let us know. I think it is pretty common..

[goodgrief]

I'm afraid it would delay closing for us. I would want it fixed to my satisfaction and inspected to insure there is no major underlying issue. Owned enough homes to be overly careful especially with ground collapse and sink hole issues in this area. Superficial can be caused by settling.

[The Wooz]

I had a garage built several years ago and about two weeks later, I noticed a crack in the floor. I called the builder and he said very politely, "I can guarantee you three things about concrete; 1) it won't burn, 2) no one will steal it and 3) it will crack." He also said that anyone that guarantees you that concrete won't crack is just plain lying to you.

[CaptJohn]

I had a garage built several years ago and about two weeks later, I noticed a crack in the floor. I called the builder and he said very politely, "I can guarantee you three things about concrete; 1) it won't burn, 2) no one will steal it and 3) it will crack." He also said that anyone that guarantees you that concrete won't crack is just plain lying to you.

:agree: Very true. It can also crack from changes (expansion/contraction) in atmosphere and humidity, which are the most likely causes. If one can control the weather then they can probably also prevent normal cracks.

[2-crazy]

Well, it is not normal to see large cracking in concrete if done properly. My opinion is most cracking is do to using to much water and not preparing the ground or base satisfactory. Now there are what is called control joints if the area of concrete is large but they are not cracks. This is construction and time is money in their eyes so crews are working fast and don’t always take the time necessary to ensure the proper methods.

[784caroline]

I'm afraid it would delay closing for us. I would want it fixed to my satisfaction and inspected to insure there is no major underlying issue. Owned enough homes to be overly careful especially with ground collapse and sink hole issues in this area. Superficial can be caused by settling.

Im not sure what you are expecting but if you would delay closing for something like hairline cracks in the garage floor you would "run the risk" of the builder imposing a penalty for failing to meet agreed to closing date. As part of our contract we received a detailed warranty of items for years 2-10...practically everything is warranted for the first year. This warranty specifically identifies concrete cracking of basement floors and states :Minor cracks in concrete basement floors are common.Cracks exceeding 1/4 in width or 3/16inch in vertical displacement are deficiencies. The remedy...Contractor willl repair cracks exceeding maximum tolerance by surface patching or other methids as required.

[NotGolfer]

My better half used to be a contractor of homes. Hairline cracks happen as the concrete dries and the ground settles. If it's a wide crack...this probably is not normal! I remember a client once was all upset (now this was "up north") when they saw hairline cracks in their foundation. ALL normal!! They can be sealed if it's a problem with the home-owner.

[janmcn]

Wouldn't these cracks in the cement be reason to have your sinkhole insurance canceled or not renewed?

[Shimpy]

This is Florida and under the concrete you have mostly sand, not granite. It's a forgone conclusion that concrete will develope cracks. If you have a block home be prepared for cracks in you walls along morter joints from settling also in a few years. I've owned 4 CBS (cement block stucco) homes in Florida and they all developed cracks.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

...... I called the builder and he said very politely, "I can guarantee you three things about concrete; 1) it won't burn, 2) no one will steal it and 3) it will crack." ........

A friend of ours used to be a concrete contractor. His saying was similar: "The only thing I guarantee are cracks and duck ponds!" :D

As long as things don't continue to settle further, making the crack larger in the process, everything will be fine.

Bill :)

[justjim]

If you pull up your carpet, chances are pretty good you will find cracks in your concrete slab. Could you build a concrete slab without any cracks? Probably, but not using standard building specifications. It would cost you 4 or 5 times what you would normally pay for the same slab of concrete and even then the contractor would not guarantee it to never get a crack. My contractor in Illinois that built my custom home a few years told me there are only two types of basements----one that has water and one given enough time will get water. I had told him do everything possible to keep water out of my basement. I suspect concrete slabs (as others posts have mentioned) have cracks or given enough time are going to have some cracks. Its the nature of the beast! As a matter of fact, we were invited to see this contractor's new home (it was in the million dollar range) and guess what? His garage floor had a crack from one side to the other! True story. When I mentioned it to him, he just laughed. Small crack in your concrete floor----nothing to worry about.

[asianthree]

we have one in our garage and i bet there is one somewhere in the house:ohdear:

[k2at]

I would get the engineer out who inspected ur house and ask his opinion. The advice above is probably sound, but a crack other than a hairline crack could be the result of a sinkhole forming.

Better spend a few bucks now rather than mucho bucks later.

[mrsyarbie]

Have lived in Florida for over 30 years and have had lots of cracks over the years in our homes due to shift in soil here and no basements.. My husband is a native and he says this is common, you can always ask home warranty department to get another opinion for you.. I have been here since April and we do not hesitate contacing them for anything we think needs to be addressed.

[l2ridehd]

Concrete will crack. The real question "is the crack minor or major"? How is the difference defined in your contract? I would consider hairline cracks normal and minor. Any crack 1/4 inch wide would be major. Maybe even 1/8 inch wide would be a concern.

There is a product made by Rust-Oleum to repair concrete cracks. It is a two part epoxy mix. I did the epoxy paint in my garage in VA and repaired many cracks prior to painting. I mixed the epoxy and using a putty knife to put it in all the cracks. And I had many as the house is 30 years old. You let the epoxy dry 24 hours and then sand smooth. I had so many I rented a floor sander from Home Depot. Then painted the floor with the epoxy paint after cleaning and etching. You cannot find the cracks now. Even knowing where they were, I can't find them. I had one so bad I used a sledge hammer to break out the concrete and patch with concrete patch and then make smooth with the epoxy and you can't see it.

As long as the concrete was installed properly with rebar and 5 inch wire screen, minor cracks are not an issue and can be fixed before painting so you will never see them again.

[mulligan]

Except for a few rods at the perimeter, there is no steel in the house slabs here. They use fibercrete, which has fiber mixed in with the concrete. That being said, i take exception to the notion that all slabs crack. If the control joints are placed properly, and the concrete is allowed to cure properly, and the soil underneath is compacted properly, they will not crack. I have never seen anyone do a compaction test here. I was involved with quite a few homes in Collier county, and we did a wet cure, that is, we ran the sprinklers on the slab for 3 days after pouring. Result: NO CRACKS

[getdul981]

It is my understanding that construction on the slab should not be done within a week of the pouring. I have seen several houses where the concretre was poured one day and the crews are on site the following day erexcting walls. I just wonder if they use something to cause the concrete to cure over night.

[philnpat]

One way to check for voids under concrete slabs is to simply drop a golf ball from chest high and listen to the sound as it hits the floor. A click is good ...a hollow sound is a concern.

[mulligan]

Concrete cannot cure overnight. No matter what you do to it, it takes 28 days to fully cure.

[captg]

:undecided:When I questioned the cracks on my lanai floor they sent out the foreman from T & D and he told me cracks are normal. He also said if I would pull up the carpet I would find more cracks. I asked him if he had ever been to Italy where they have been using cement for over 2K years. Some of these buildings have no cracks even in areas subject to earthquakes. I feel that they pour fast and build quick here, I for one am not convinced that concrete and cement will crack. With no Rebar it will crack.:spoken:

[mulligan]

rebar has little to do with cracking

[jkpender]

I was told by an inspector if you can fit a quarter into the crack then you have a problem. Anything smaller is considered normal.

[mulligan]

It may be common, but it is not normal. If curing is correct, compaction is correct, and placement is correct, it does not have to crack. I could show you 30 year old slabs with no cracks.

[applesoffh]

A contributing factor may be that the concrete isn't allowed to "cure". I've been watching all the new construction going on around me for the last 7 months...concrete is poured, and building on the slad begins no more than 3 days later, weather permitting. Strangely, when a patch of concrete had to be repaired on my driveway, we were told that the patch would have to "cure" for a minimum of 30 days before re-painting to match the rest of the driveway. Go figure...

[mulligan]

See above posts

[gamby]

I've been a Mason for over 40 years,

Mulligan is mostly right !

[Phanatic Luvr]

This is Florida and under the concrete you have mostly sand, not granite. It's a forgone conclusion that concrete will develope cracks. If you have a block home be prepared for cracks in you walls along morter joints from settling also in a few years. I've owned 4 CBS (cement block stucco) homes in Florida and they all developed cracks.

Yes, Shimpy is correct about step cracks in block homes (they appear in the shape of steps). It is important to check your exterior periodically for such cracks in both hot weather and cooler weather as they may appear one day and not the next due to expansion and contraction.
In our former neighborhood near Tampa, my neighbor across the street had step cracks down his side wall and his neighbors sprinklers were hitting the side of his house which had the step cracks and allowing moisture throught the block. Eventually, that side of his home had a ton of mold between the walls which needed to be gutted. Driving rain can also have the same effect.
We live in St. James, our home less than a year, and have already had one repaired. Just keep an eye out, preventive maintenance.

[sueandskip]

I had a garage built several years ago and about two weeks later, I noticed a crack in the floor. I called the builder and he said very politely, "I can guarantee you three things about concrete; 1) it won't burn, 2) no one will steal it and 3) it will crack." He also said that anyone that guarantees you that concrete won't crack is just plain lying to you.

You may not like it,,,you may not believe it,,,but this is true