[suzie741]

we just had a new concrete slab poured for our new garage. An offset crack has occurred at the very front next to the wall stud. The crack is about 6 inches long and goes all the way through the slab. It is about 1/8 inch wide, It has gotten bigger in the last couple of weeks. The contractor built the garage door opening to short, we had contracted for a 16 X 8 foot door, but they built it 16 X 7 ft. So they built a temporary wall and ripped the studs out and rebulit the opening to the correcr height. The concrete is cracking where one of the studs was ripped out. The concrete was poured over a 4" crusher run compacted base, with wire grids embedded in it. I think the crack was caused by the contractor ripping the studs out, not by the concete guy. Anyway what is the correct fix for this problem. The garage doors have not been installed yet and I am not going to let them proceed until this problem is resolved. Thanks Susan

[ballengerb1]

Are you asking which contractor is responsible for repair costs?

[suzie741]

No, I just want the problem fixed correctly. The contractor and the concrete man can argue over who's responsible. They want to just cut the bad piece out and patch it. But I'm not going to accept this on a new slab that's only six weeks old. They are telling me at worst the forms were removed too soon. I say it appears to be a concrete curring issue or mixture issue. In any event I have contacted a local structural engineering who speciliaizes in concrete to get his opinion. They may need to repour the entire slab. We will see.

[ballengerb1]

If this is a bad mix or a poor cure you will see way more than you described. A patch with reinforcement is the standard cure. I have never seen a contractor rip up and entire slab and repour for a 6" crack.

[suzie741]

Should the contractor be able to supply me with specs on the mix used? I know I can have a sample taken and tested , but don't know if this is necessary. I can tell you the slab was poured when we were having 100 plus degree weather here in July. I don't know if they monitored the moisture content of the slab or not. I was told it was sprayed with water at leat once during the curing process. There is a 3 year warranty on the work by the contractor and I asked if this covered the slab and they said yes. It's in my contract all work , but maybe since this problem has occurred I should probably get it in specific writing for the slab. I just don't want to move everything in the garage and then have it crack all over. Right now the slab has no load on it.

[ballengerb1]

OK that crack concerns me more than a simple hairline crack. It shows settling. I suspect there is little or no reinforcement or tie to the perimeter. The perimeter should be a thicken slab or a footing and I see neither. If you have a city or county building inspector I'd ask him to come out to take a look

[suzie741]

Thanks for your input. I have contacted my city building inspector's office and requested an inspection for this Friday. I will let you know the outcome.

[ballengerb1]

I suspect a faulty footing which can turn into a big deal. Hope the inspector nails this for you