What can we do about a hairline crack running through the front porch on our brand new house?

Question

It is a concrete slab that sits above a brick ledge. We've not even moved in yet. What causes this? What can we do about it?

Answer 1

Stress causes it to crack as well as drying to fast.
If the contractor did not use a good cement, such as a fiber reinforced type, or did not lay any type of support under the slab then you can have that.
There is a concrete patch that you can get that is applied by a caulking gun. Get that run the bead as deep in as you can get it and then smooth the top down. I would then get a good masonary paint and paint the slab to help seal it from further damage caused by water.

Answer 2

First, there is not a contractor in the world that will guarantee concrete not to get hairline cracks. I have worked with concrete for many years and have never seen a slab crack free. Most all repairs look bad. If it is something you can't live with, there are many epoxy coatings on the market that can make it look good. The bad part is you have to do the whole area.

Answer 3

The crack indicates that the building is settling on its foundation, and that the foundation may be faulty.

Have you closed on the purchase contract? If not, require that the seller provide a home inspection prior to closing. Specifically the inspector should review the plans to determine what foundation is called for, and should inspect the foundation to determine whether the specified foundation was installed. If the lot was filled with soil prior to installation of the foundation, or if the foundation was not reinforced with rebar, there may well be more settling to come, more cracking of the slab, and even the development of cracks in interior walls.

If you have closed, see a real estate attorney about whether you can require the contractor to reinforce the foundation because of latent defect which was not disclosed to you, and to repair the consequences of the defect. The expense of consultation with an attorney is modest in comparison to the cost of the fix. If you wait until beyond the warranty period you may loose your legal remedy againt the contractor.

Answer 4

I'm not a contractor but I don't think you have many options. Option A would be patching the crack with Quik-Crete. This option may not be reasonable since the patch could be seen and this is a new home. Option B would be starting all over.

I would also wonder about the quality of work your contractor has given you thus far. You should not experience any cracking until your home starts settling, which will be years from now.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

You haven't even moved in yet? Go complain to the contractor that did the job. That is poor workmanship. Maybe a few years down the line you could expect a few problems like that, but not on a house you haven't even moved into. Is there some type of warranty included in the purchase of the new home?

Answer 6

i'm betting that the concrete was installed over a sand filled porch that was not tamped and or there is left over brick and other items thrown in the porch area to reduce the amount of fill dirt the contractor would need , so he could save money......also there should be an expanding board( black board) around the edge of the porch that the concrete is poured to, to allow movement of the concrete and not to crack.....

either way, ur contractor needs to replace it, and dont take no for an answer.....

lic. gen. contractor

either way

Answer 7

Is there no door to your condo unit to be able to enter the front of your house? If none then you should provide or request a cigarette trash in front of your house so that the college boy across the street should pay attention in throwing his cigarette butts in the right places. Your first comments regarding your allergy and totally against smoking applies only to you. You cannot subjected everyone not to smoke in front of you unless you are the lawmakers in the country or the President of the country. There is no such prohibition of not smoking in front of one's house. If there is a law that prohibits a person or people to smoke in front of one's house then this law can be question by human rights council or commission. It is either you put up your own sign or keep your distance from people or person smoking in front of your house. Your second comment. Whether this boy is immature or whatever is not your concern. If you told him not to smoke in front of your house and keeps on doing so maybe you should be concentrating on telling his mother or father about their boy and not the boy itself. How can you prove it? Easy. You have a cellphone with a video camera or a camcorder right or left? Right. Then take a video or picture of him while he smokes in front of your house. Then show him the proof he is asking. 4 shots in different angle might do the trick. Why collect the cigarette butts yourself, why not ask him to collect it himself everytime he smokes there and clean up the place. You can warn his parents but totally asking him to stop depends on his own free will. If you can convince him well that is fine if not then you have no other choice but to just clean up when he finishing smoking. Why not talk to him in a nice pleasant way so that both of you win in every situation. Ask him to smoke somewhere else.

Answer 8

Call your builder/contractor. There will be guarantees in your contract that require them to fix structural problems at no charge. If they say it's fine, demand a statement in writing to that effect. If you have insurance on your home already, also contact your insurance company.

Answer 9

If this is a new house just built you can make the contractor redo the slab. they have to warranty the work for at least a year. you might have to threaten them with the better business bureau

Answer 10

Those are 2 good answers. Don't forget the contractor is not your friend. just make him fix it (seal & paint) to prevent freezing water from causing further damage.