Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    egaprons's Avatar
    egaprons Posts: 6, Reputation: 2
    New Member
     
    #1

    Apr 18, 2008, 09:58 AM
    Concrete floor base cracks
    I am considering purchasing a house and in one room there is a cement crack about 3 feet long. The house is 4 years old and has a cement base under the carpeting and tile. I contacted a cement pourer who said this was a fairly ordinary occurrence and should not pose a problem. Is this a significant problem and is what would be the fix for it? Thanks.
    amricca's Avatar
    amricca Posts: 851, Reputation: 92
    Senior Member
     
    #2

    Apr 18, 2008, 10:31 AM
    How wide is the crack? If it is just hairline it shouldn't be a problem.
    egaprons's Avatar
    egaprons Posts: 6, Reputation: 2
    New Member
     
    #3

    Apr 18, 2008, 10:36 AM
    At the widest point a little less than 3/8"
    amricca's Avatar
    amricca Posts: 851, Reputation: 92
    Senior Member
     
    #4

    Apr 18, 2008, 10:44 AM
    That is fairly wide, can you tell how deep it goes?
    egaprons's Avatar
    egaprons Posts: 6, Reputation: 2
    New Member
     
    #5

    Apr 18, 2008, 10:46 AM
    I don't know the depth but the house is on the ground
    amricca's Avatar
    amricca Posts: 851, Reputation: 92
    Senior Member
     
    #6

    Apr 18, 2008, 10:59 AM
    If it is flat, meaning the floor is not heaving, it should be OK. I was asking how deep it was to see if it is all the way through the slab or just a inch or so. You could fill it with some epoxy or grout.
    egaprons's Avatar
    egaprons Posts: 6, Reputation: 2
    New Member
     
    #7

    Apr 18, 2008, 11:01 AM
    Thanks. You have been really helpful and I will be a bit more knowledgeable when I talk to the contractor.
    MOWERMAN2468's Avatar
    MOWERMAN2468 Posts: 3,214, Reputation: 243
    Ultra Member
     
    #8

    Apr 18, 2008, 11:07 AM
    Before making the purchase, I would think you would want to have an inspection made of the home first, if the seller kind of acts weird about having the inspection, then you may want to back off, and ask yourself why they would act that way. Also, I would be interested in asking why they are selling a house after only four years.
    egaprons's Avatar
    egaprons Posts: 6, Reputation: 2
    New Member
     
    #9

    Apr 18, 2008, 11:11 AM
    California foreclosure market is moving sales. I found out about the cement crack from the Inspection Report. I am currently trying to determine if it is a serious issue (like will the walls move later, or water seep in), what type of repair if any will fix it and what it will cost. I hve contacted the seller and am holding off on anything until I/we determine the true nature and extent (if its possible to know).
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #10

    Apr 18, 2008, 11:31 AM
    Hairline cracks form in neartly all concrete pours but this is not hairline. It is a indication of perimeter settling of the foundation. Every home settles because of weight and the amount of dirt disturbed during construction but 3/8" is enough to start cracks in the walls. Do you see windows that don't work easily or doors that bind, cracks in the walls?
    egaprons's Avatar
    egaprons Posts: 6, Reputation: 2
    New Member
     
    #11

    Apr 18, 2008, 11:33 AM
    None of these things, no cracks in wall, all doors and windows work well.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #12

    Apr 18, 2008, 11:37 AM
    None of those things, then less of a worry.
    MOWERMAN2468's Avatar
    MOWERMAN2468 Posts: 3,214, Reputation: 243
    Ultra Member
     
    #13

    Apr 19, 2008, 07:49 AM
    I agree with ballengerb1, a 3/8" crack and especially in a four year old home, hmm, be very careful. Something doesn't seem right here. I would definitely suggest having that home inspection completed by someone YOU pick, not one that the SELLER picks.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Fixing Garage Floor with cracks [ 3 Answers ]

I would like to fill cracks in my Garage Floor but they Are about 2-3" wide and about that deep. What Can I Use to fill and then to seal and paint the garage floor?

Repairing cracks and painting concrete garage floor [ 3 Answers ]

My garage floor was painted when I moved in and the house was new. I'm selling the home now so I am filling the cracks on the garage floor and after it's patched I will repaint it. I am using a scraping tool and removing the paint from each side of the crack before I repair it as I think that's...

Cracks in concrete foundation [ 2 Answers ]

I recently inherited my grandparents home. It is probably 65 years old with a concrete foundation and crawl space underneath. It was built on to about 45 years ago. The older part of the house has several cracks in the outside concrete foundation. I don't know if they are recent or have been...

Build a shower base on concrete floor [ 1 Answers ]

Hey guys. Newbie to this website, but it looks as though it's my answer. I've got a spare bathroom in the basement that I'm installing a neo-angle shower. The catch is that the builder plumbed the bath with the drain and water inlets coming from the wall for a claw foot tub... no drain in the...

Concrete cracks [ 1 Answers ]

I have cracks in a side path I poured at my home. Is it possible for shrinkage cracks to look like settlement cracks? I compacted all the subgrade first, and took every precaution to ensure I did not get settlement cracks, i.e.. Adequate depth to reinforcing and not a slumpy concrete, but I still...


View more questions Search