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Posted: 8/14/2017 12:37:01 PM EST
I am getting a home built by a developer and I noticed a crack formed in the foundation from bottom to the top of the wall in the basement. I then check outside and thr crack is all the way through, of what I can see. It is also alresdy seaping water.

Devloper says this is normal and they will epoxy. I then check other houses and 4 of the 6 house that are currently being built have cracks.

Should I back out of the deal, or ask for money back after it is repaired.  The house is still not finished.


Update 1 pictures. Dont know how to post pictures


https://m.imgur.com/a/rRpga
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:38:41 PM EST
[#1]
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:41:07 PM EST
[#2]
Runaway
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:41:16 PM EST
[#3]
Pay the money and have an civil engineer give you an answer.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:41:58 PM EST
[#4]
Piss on him to establish dominance first.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:43:02 PM EST
[#5]
Cracks are ok if they are from shrinking/settling.

Cracks seeping water are never ok.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:44:58 PM EST
[#6]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Pay the money and have an civil engineer give you an answer.
View Quote
Save your money. Illinois is going to have frost and thaw cycles. Any water trapped in the "seeping" crack is going to expand and erode the foundation.


RUN don't walk.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:46:19 PM EST
[#7]
What kind of foundation (material and type i.e. Slab, crawl, basement)?
How wide is the crack?
Any vertical displacement (does 1 side of crack stick out farther than other side?
How long since it was built?
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:48:04 PM EST
[#8]
I like to believe my foundation is perfect.

To know it's not from the get-go....not acceptable.  Let someone else buy it.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:48:10 PM EST
[#9]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



Save your money. Illinois is going to have frost and thaw cycles. Any water trapped in the "seeping" crack is going to expand and erode the foundation.


RUN don't walk.
View Quote
this is the only answer. if you dot run you'll regret it. BTW cracks like you describe are NOT normal. he wants you to accept his shit work
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:50:11 PM EST
[#10]
run forest run.... leaking basements suck!   usually a real pita to keep dry if not prepped properly during the build with sealer on the outside and mat material to keep the dirt directly off it.. and proper drainage away from the wall....  if the thing is cracked your already screwed...... his idea of poocky will probably last 13 months then your on your own in a new home, oh joy
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:50:31 PM EST
[#11]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Runaway
View Quote
Cracks this early are a total no go and only get worse

Run Forest run
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 12:51:22 PM EST
[#12]
If he's proposing epoxy then he already knows it's a structural problem.  Non-structural cracks get polyurethane injection.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:16:51 PM EST
[#13]
I have built many home with poured wall basement/foundations (and many block walls).

NEVER have I had one with a crack that went through a wall.
Sometimes you see spider-web lines or hair line cracks...but that only on the surface.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:23:11 PM EST
[#14]
crack all the way through is not acceptable
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:24:51 PM EST
[#15]
I've consulted Bishop Bullwinkle, and his response was Hell to the Naw.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:26:13 PM EST
[#16]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
crack all the way through is not acceptable
View Quote
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:30:52 PM EST
[#17]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
If he's proposing epoxy then he already knows it's a structural problem.  Non-structural cracks get polyurethane injection.
View Quote
Not necessarily. In my experience, some people will go with epoxy because it is cheaper.

Not that you're wrong though. Could be a red flag.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:33:40 PM EST
[#18]
OP you got a pic? How wide is the crack? How much water is seeping? How thick is the wall?
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:35:29 PM EST
[#19]
i would have him sign a legal agreement on future issues if that's a possibility? 

i've had 4 homes built with block, 11-13 course basements with no cracks.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:41:40 PM EST
[#20]
I used to be a carpenter and formed up plenty of residential and commercial/industrial concrete projects.

The few sticks of rebar that were placed before the pour for residential basements is downright scary.

I am not saying that is the cause of your crack...but IMO, more rebar = more better
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:45:39 PM EST
[#21]
Lots of LOL in here.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 1:48:26 PM EST
[#22]
If it's a shrinkage crack (too much water in the mix, not enough control joints) it's fine.  Seal it up and keep going.

Document it, get the fix in writing, keep it on file.   If you can still get to the outside I'd ask for a membrane to be installed over the crack area if it isn't already specified.

If the wall hasn't been backfilled (ie, hasn't been stressed, then it's likely a shrinkage crack.)

If they backfilled the basement wall without properly bracing the wall and cracked the wall, they broke the thing.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 2:02:27 PM EST
[#23]
Quoted:
I am getting a home built by a developer and I noticed a crack formed in the foundation from bottom to the top of the wall in the basement. I then check outside and thr crack is all the way through, of what I can see. It is also alresdy seaping water.

Devloper says this is normal and they will epoxy. I then check other houses and 4 of the 6 house that are currently being built have cracks.

Should I back out of the deal, or ask for money back after it is repaired.  The house is still not finished.
View Quote


It is normal if the footers and foundation are not up to specs.  If the wall is cracked now, as it's being built, how much better will it be in 10 years.  It won't, the end of that house is settling.  My guess would be poor footers and reinforcement.

Run away!
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 2:33:08 PM EST
[#24]
It is concrete basement waiting on engineers report and what company is going to do.

I'm worried what will happen during freeze thaw and resale value.

https://m.imgur.com/a/rRpga
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 2:49:41 PM EST
[#25]


That looks like a shrinkage crack.  I don't see any displacement.  It's not ideal but it will probably be okay with an injection to keep water out.  Did the builder damp-proof the exterior and install proper footing drains?

Freeze-thaw shouldn't affect it much, most of the wall is below frost depth.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 2:57:02 PM EST
[#26]
I'm no basementologist, but I would have thought something would settle over years, not days.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:06:06 PM EST
[#27]
Why is it seeping?  

That tells me the outside does not have the proper drains and water proofing.


Water proofing is more about proving a path for water to drain away than perfect sealing.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:11:20 PM EST
[#28]
Back out now.  That's not normal.  They should have packed the soil first and then used plenty of rebar with wire to help hold the concrete together.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:29:47 PM EST
[#29]
There shouldn't be water outside to seep in....
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:36:58 PM EST
[#30]
There is drainage tile around the house that leads to a sump pit. The sump pump is not installed yet so maybe that is why. Also 4 other houses I saw being built have shrinkage cracks.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:37:34 PM EST
[#31]
Concrete cracks. Always will. Always does.

It's the type of crack that should concern you, not the mere existence of one. A crack in a new foundation can be problematic, if it goes all the way through and there is significant space in between. If it's just a crack and there doesn't appear to be any separation, then it's not necessarily a big deal. Why? Because concrete cracks.

Most foundations end up having cracks in them. It's just the nature of the product.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:42:12 PM EST
[#32]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
https://i.imgur.com/W1svidJ.jpg

That looks like a shrinkage crack.  I don't see any displacement.  It's not ideal but it will probably be okay with an injection to keep water out.  Did the builder damp-proof the exterior and install proper footing drains?

Freeze-thaw shouldn't affect it much, most of the wall is below frost depth.
View Quote
I guarantee concrete to do 2 things, get hard and crack....  

I agree with the Dr.  No displacement or widening of the gap.  It is concrete, it cracks, and as long as there is rebar in there to hold it together there shouldn't be a problem.  I would want to make sure there is drain tile inside and outside that leads to a sump pump hole.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:43:02 PM EST
[#33]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
https://i.imgur.com/W1svidJ.jpg

That looks like a shrinkage crack.  I don't see any displacement.  It's not ideal but it will probably be okay with an injection to keep water out.  Did the builder damp-proof the exterior and install proper footing drains?

Freeze-thaw shouldn't affect it much, most of the wall is below frost depth.
View Quote
Yeah, not exactly sure what caused that crack. It doesn't appear to be anything serious, but there is evidence on the bottom 14" or so that water has made its way in from the outside. A properly sealed foundation in all likelihood would not have allowed that. I'd be more worried about the seal than the crack at this point and want to investigate that further. Who knows, maybe that process will lead to additional discoveries (like why it cracked in the first place).
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:45:38 PM EST
[#34]
Speaking only as a guy that repairs miles of cracks and water seepage in below grade walls each year.... that ain't right.

EDIT: Now I see the picture.

It's most likely just a shrinkage crack - common. With that being said it shouldn't be leaking already. Epoxy and or grout injection is in your future.

You need waterproofing, drainage mat, and a french drain that conveys the water away from the foundation at the exterior of the house.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:52:12 PM EST
[#35]
Quoted:
I am getting a home built by a developer and I noticed a crack formed in the foundation from bottom to the top of the wall in the basement. I then check outside and thr crack is all the way through, of what I can see. It is also alresdy seaping water.

Devloper says this is normal and they will epoxy. I then check other houses and 4 of the 6 house that are currently being built have cracks.

Should I back out of the deal, or ask for money back after it is repaired.  The house is still not finished.

Update 1 pictures. Dont know how to post pictures

https://m.imgur.com/a/rRpga
View Quote

What depth below ground level are the footings?
What type of soil.
Is there a French drain all around the house?

If the footings are 5' or deeper you are below the frost line and the house should not move.

If the contractor is willing to go the extra mile and repair the crack and properly waterproof the exterior of the foundation like in the link below I would have no problem with that.

Link
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:56:44 PM EST
[#36]
Bill Clinton would tell you that cracks only get bigger.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 3:59:13 PM EST
[#37]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Pay the money and have an civil engineer give you an answer.
View Quote
this absolutely this. someone with experience with foundations and a licensed civil engineer. i would look for one with specific single home foundation experience.

foundation leaks are an absolute nightmare. think mold. think if you ever want to sell.

you said someone was building it for you. is this you tying up a pre-sale that the builder is doing or are you paying the builder yourself for the work.

i would take very very hard look at this issue. i built homes on the side in the middle 2000s and the care that went into prepping, digging, rebarring and pouring foundations and basements was the number one thing you had to make sure had no issues. around here a problem like that might preclude getting a certificate of occupancy from the city or county.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 4:00:04 PM EST
[#38]
Looks like OP is building his home in tornado alley, in the Plainfield, Romeoville area of Illinois. If so, he also has other worries.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 4:05:44 PM EST
[#39]
CT is having problems with crumbling foundations tied to one contractor over the course of some 20+yrs.

Alot of homeowners are screwed.  Their policies don't cover the damage.  There is some thinking the insurance companies saw a problem years before it become wide spread, having the laws changed to help avoid liability.

The state tried to setup insurance pools, allowing those companies to spread the cost across their customer base.  The customers of those insurance companies pushed back, threatening to change carriers to non participating companies.

The district congressman, whom represents the whole affected area has come up goose eggs in providing federal funding.  Our senators have stayed mostly out of the problem.

The original contractor sold the business.  There are no regs on concrete mixes.  Civilly the crumbling foundation homes are screwed.

http://www.wfsb.com/story/31613250/homeowners-blame-crumbling-foundations-on-concrete-company
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 4:55:02 PM EST
[#40]
Some times. even if there are no cracks, the walls can leak.  If the concrete company pouring the foundation doesn't get enough concrete for one pour, and they have to wait a while until more concrete shows up, the first pour can start to dry, and if they don't use a vibrator to mix the first and second pour properly, there can be a seam between the two pours that may leak.  The whole purpose of those giant vibrators is to thoroughly mix pour A with pour B so there isn't a problem with seams in the walls.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 5:28:38 PM EST
[#41]
Been building private and commercial jobs for years. That's fine if it doesn't move. If it move you got problems.
Shouldn't be getting water coming in, but paint drylock on it and you should be good.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 5:57:13 PM EST
[#42]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:

Yeah, not exactly sure what caused that crack. It doesn't appear to be anything serious, but there is evidence on the bottom 14" or so that water has made its way in from the outside. A properly sealed foundation in all likelihood would not have allowed that. I'd be more worried about the seal than the crack at this point and want to investigate that further. Who knows, maybe that process will lead to additional discoveries (like why it cracked in the first place).
View Quote
This........ The Goblin is the Crete-Master

Link Posted: 8/14/2017 5:57:38 PM EST
[#43]
I would have them waterproof the basement and then you never have to worry about water coming in your basement.
Link Posted: 8/14/2017 6:01:48 PM EST
[#44]
Quoted:
I am getting a home built by a developer and I noticed a crack formed in the foundation from bottom to the top of the wall in the basement. I then check outside and thr crack is all the way through, of what I can see. It is also alresdy seaping water.

Devloper says this is normal and they will epoxy. I then check other houses and 4 of the 6 house that are currently being built have cracks.

Should I back out of the deal, or ask for money back after it is repaired.  The house is still not finished.

Update 1 pictures. Dont know how to post pictures

https://m.imgur.com/a/rRpga
View Quote



Vertical crack less than 1/4" wide is ok.  DIY Polyurethane kit can fix 99% of the time if not 100%.  I have one in my basement I have just fixed for $50.  

horizontal, run.

Epoxy is the wrong answer.  Polyurethane expansion foam is the correct way to fix it.  It is elastic, it contract and expand following the froze/thaw cycle.    It's pushed from inside to the outside and seals the crack from outside.


Link Posted: 8/14/2017 6:01:49 PM EST
[#45]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:

What depth below ground level are the footings?
What type of soil.
Is there a French drain all around the house?

If the footings are 5' or deeper you are below the frost line and the house should not move.

If the contractor is willing to go the extra mile and repair the crack and properly waterproof the exterior of the foundation like in the link below I would have no problem with that.

Link
View Quote
Nothing like having evidence of a willful violation on your web site. 

Link Posted: 8/14/2017 6:54:37 PM EST
[#46]
100% fine. If it ran left to right it'd be bad. Vertical cracks in concrete foundations are no issue (if they don't move). It just sucks it happened so soon. Most new housing contracts in the northeast include 1 year of crack fixing. The crack fix will keep the water out. Get gutters, keep the water away from the foundation, you'll be fine.
Link Posted: 8/15/2017 5:46:28 AM EST
[#47]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:

If the contractor is willing to go the extra mile and repair the crack and properly waterproof the exterior of the foundation like in the link below I would have no problem with that.

Link
View Quote
That's one of the better explanations that a "layman" can understand. Personally, I like to keep my roof downspouts at grade and don't introduce that water anywhere near the basement wall. Installed properly and protected from damage, 60 mil "rubber" sheet waterproofing, with proper drainage to daylight will be your best option. I don't understand why contractors let their customers skimp on the waterproofing.
Link Posted: 8/15/2017 5:48:26 AM EST
[#48]
Double tap!
Link Posted: 8/15/2017 5:54:25 AM EST
[#49]
The whole state is a shithole built on foundation of corruption - whats another crack?
Link Posted: 8/15/2017 6:02:03 AM EST
[#50]
Our basement had (3) floor to ceiling cracks pop up within a month or two of the foundation being poured.  Almost 8 years later there are no additional cracks and zero displacement.
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