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Started By
Message
Back patio slab is 2 weeks old and has 5 cracks already - UPDATED
Posted on 6/28/21 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 6/28/21 at 12:34 pm
Here are the pics. Short story, our guy is saying these are surface cracks in the "cap" and they could "probably use a filler" to make them less visible.
Our neighbor (and good friend) is saying we need to throw the bullshite flag and tell him to re-cap the slab.
Outside of that, what would cause these? The slab is 12x30 and we have 5 cracks that run edge-to-edge (12' long).
ETA: Not surface cracks, they run through the entire slab not just at the surface
Our neighbor (and good friend) is saying we need to throw the bullshite flag and tell him to re-cap the slab.
Outside of that, what would cause these? The slab is 12x30 and we have 5 cracks that run edge-to-edge (12' long).
ETA: Not surface cracks, they run through the entire slab not just at the surface
This post was edited on 6/28/21 at 5:38 pm
9
Posted on 6/28/21 at 1:01 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
That many cracks, that soon seems like the prep work was not there. That being said, there's 2 types on concrete, slabs that crack, and slabs that haven't cracked yet.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 1:22 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Anyway for you to see how thick the slab is? Typically you want to have joints 24-36 times the thickness of the slab so if it's 4" thick for simplicity you'd like 2 saw cut joints or isolation joints basically segmenting it into 12x10, 12x10, 12x10 if that makes sense.
Edit: These saw cut joints would have forced the cracking to occur at these locations.
Edit: These saw cut joints would have forced the cracking to occur at these locations.
This post was edited on 6/28/21 at 1:25 pm
Posted on 6/28/21 at 1:23 pm to BlackPot
I am expecting a crack at some point in the future, but not 5 cracks in 2 weeks in (with only foot traffic on it so far).
In terms of "prep work", what are some questions you'd suggest I ask? It's a 12' x 30' slab, 4" thick.
In terms of "prep work", what are some questions you'd suggest I ask? It's a 12' x 30' slab, 4" thick.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 1:29 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
quote:
In terms of "prep work", what are some questions you'd suggest I ask?
-I would ask if the ground was compacted at all.
-Was the wire mesh laid down on the ground or did they put it mid level. (most contractors don't take the time to do this and the wire mesh at the bottom provides little to no help in tension).
-Are there any type of precast or postcast joints.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 1:33 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
quote:any joints?
It's a 12' x 30' slab, 4" thick.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 1:48 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
If you pour concrete in Louisiana and it don't crack... you better dig it up and find out what's wrong with it. I know it sucks man. Had a a patio poured and had decorative stone put in.. Cracked in 3-4 places already.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 1:55 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
What was the spacing of the expansion joints?
Posted on 6/28/21 at 1:56 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
I'd guess it dried too quickly
Posted on 6/28/21 at 2:20 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
quote:
In terms of "prep work", what are some questions you'd suggest I ask? It's a 12' x 30' slab, 4" thick.
Was the top soil scraped and had a good compacted dirt on top? Any expansion joints, or 1 continuous slab? Also someone mentioned mesh, any added in there?
Posted on 6/28/21 at 2:24 pm to BlackPot
1. Added too much water to concrete. Those are shrinkage cracks.
2. Not enough or no control joints
3. Cured too quickly, didn't use a curing compound or keep wet.
I assuming this is foot traffic only so I wouldnt blame sub grade failure so soon.
2. Not enough or no control joints
3. Cured too quickly, didn't use a curing compound or keep wet.
I assuming this is foot traffic only so I wouldnt blame sub grade failure so soon.
This post was edited on 6/28/21 at 2:25 pm
Posted on 6/28/21 at 2:59 pm to JusTrollin
quote:
3. Cured too quickly, didn't use a curing compound or keep wet.
This is a result of
quote:
1. Added too much water to concrete. Those are shrinkage cracks.
I would bet good money they placed the concrete later in the day with high heat. The finisher added water to it, then did not cure it properly.
Structurally, most likely it is completely fine. The aesthetics are what you are now dealing with here.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 3:47 pm to 4LSU2
Can you skim something like that to dress it up? Maybe cover in tile or flagstone?
Posted on 6/28/21 at 4:06 pm to tide06
Anything you put over the top will crack unless you use a decoupler over the cracked area. Whoever sells you the tile will also sell the doucoupler material. Its basically a polymer material that glues down to the concrete over the crack. You then put down you flooring over it so when the crack grows it doesn't translate into the finish floor.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 4:38 pm to 4LSU2
quote:
I would bet good money they placed the concrete later in the day with high heat. The finisher added water to it
You would win good money. This is exactly what they did.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 4:39 pm to JusTrollin
no tile being installed. Just a back patio slab with a float finish. It has a roof and will be covered with furniture soon.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 5:34 pm to Adam4848
Thank you for the advice. I went back out and dug away some grass and you can see that the slab is cracked all the way through, not just a surface crack. Does that change anything in terms of what I should ask or demand from him?
Zoom in and you can see....
Zoom in and you can see....
Posted on 6/28/21 at 5:35 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Ever find out how many joints are in the slab?
Posted on 6/28/21 at 5:39 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
That’s a great picture. I’m attaching a picture of how typical saw cut joints work that would avoid the surface cracking you’re getting.
If in fact there are none I would be livid because that’s lazy especially for what you paid for it.
If in fact there are none I would be livid because that’s lazy especially for what you paid for it.
This post was edited on 6/28/21 at 5:41 pm
Posted on 6/28/21 at 5:46 pm to Adam4848
I will ask him now. Are there different types of joints, or do I just ask him if there are joints in the slab? What would you expect his answer to be?
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