Building and Construction - New Slab Flaws

Author

New Slab Flaws - Serious Problem?

tapedude@sbcglobal.net

2006-03-18, 10:21 pm

The (post tension) slab on our new house was poured this week and today
we noticed a flaw that we are concerned about.

The hot water lines are plastic and enclosed in foam in the slab. At 2
places the foam is apparently very near the surface of the slab and in
one of these places the slab has cracked and you can actually feel the
foam covering the water line through the slab at one place (for about
2'-3' in length).

We are going to point this out to our builder tomorrow but I'd like to
have some idea if this is a serious problem.

Thanks in advance.

Phil Scott

2006-03-19, 2:21 am

--
Phil Scott
Ideas are bullet proof.
<tapedude@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1142733481.433872.129130@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
> The (post tension) slab on our new house was poured this
> week and today
> we noticed a flaw that we are concerned about.
>
> The hot water lines are plastic and enclosed in foam in the
> slab. At 2
> places the foam is apparently very near the surface of the
> slab and in
> one of these places the slab has cracked and you can
> actually feel the
> foam covering the water line through the slab at one place
> (for about
> 2'-3' in length).
>
> We are going to point this out to our builder tomorrow but
> I'd like to
> have some idea if this is a serious problem.
>
> Thanks in advance.

Its only slightly shoddy if thats all you notice...cracks in
slabs are unavoidable. If the rest of his work is OK this is
just an anomaly. It these sorts of things keep occuring in
volume then you have something to worry about.

Phil Scott
>

frippletoot@hotmail.com

2006-03-19, 12:21 pm

tapedude@sbcglobal.net wrote:
> The (post tension) slab on our new house was poured this week and today
> we noticed a flaw that we are concerned about.
>
> The hot water lines are plastic and enclosed in foam in the slab. At 2
> places the foam is apparently very near the surface of the slab and in
> one of these places the slab has cracked and you can actually feel the
> foam covering the water line through the slab at one place (for about
> 2'-3' in length).
>
> We are going to point this out to our builder tomorrow but I'd like to
> have some idea if this is a serious problem.
>
> Thanks in advance.

All new houses should have expert inspections during construction.
Even if builders in your area are legally bound by building codes,
they're not well enforced, and codes are only a minimum standard,
perhaps below what you are paying for. Before things get any further,
take photos and arrange for a competent inspection by someone
knowledgeable about structural problems, etc.

I don't know how that's done in your state, but in mine both home
inspectors and engineers have to be licensed so that's a place to
start. Also, in my state, code violations are routinely overlooked by
the city.

I have no idea if what you describe is of any concern, but having been
through a construction defect case, I do know that documentation is
very important. We didn't see our house during construction, it was
done when we first saw it. You have the ability to get mistakes
discovered and fixed before closing and I recommend you take advantage
of it. If you close on a house with defects you are in for a very long
and expensive battle. Even if your experts find nothing wrong, at
least you have the comfort of that knowledge. I would not build again
without good inspections during construction. Hope it all works out.

Phil Scott

2006-03-19, 3:21 pm

<frippletoot@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1142781406.889450.15190@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
> tapedude@sbcglobal.net wrote:
>
> All new houses should have expert inspections during
> construction.
> Even if builders in your area are legally bound by building
> codes,
> they're not well enforced, and codes are only a minimum
> standard,
> perhaps below what you are paying for. Before things get
> any further,
> take photos and arrange for a competent inspection by
> someone
> knowledgeable about structural problems, etc.
>
> I don't know how that's done in your state, but in mine both
> home
> inspectors and engineers have to be licensed so that's a
> place to
> start. Also, in my state, code violations are routinely
> overlooked by
> the city.
>
> I have no idea if what you describe is of any concern, but
> having been
> through a construction defect case, I do know that
> documentation is
> very important. We didn't see our house during
> construction, it was
> done when we first saw it. You have the ability to get
> mistakes
> discovered and fixed before closing and I recommend you take
> advantage
> of it. If you close on a house with defects you are in for
> a very long
> and expensive battle. Even if your experts find nothing
> wrong, at
> least you have the comfort of that knowledge. I would not
> build again
> without good inspections during construction. Hope it all
> works out.

thats good advice.... however some experts like to cover their
XXX and make a big deal about every little thing... the owner
thinks thats a good deal.... the contractor simply doubles his
price...all because of the nit picking.

you should have a clear understanding with your building
professional on that issue as well.

also in this area we have a lot of ex used car salesman
kiddies who 'took the building inspection course' at the local
diploma mill...and is now a 'building expert'...with no
clooo.. but with real good salesman skills.... those can do
you more harm than good also... mainly by nit picking the
cosmetic sorts of issues and missing major structural issues
that take real brains to understand.

Phil Scott

>

m Ransley

2006-03-19, 4:21 pm

Id be pissed you have no concrete thickness in that area you know. So
its thin for a longer stretch and will crack away with time and pressure
on it. If you see foam how thick could it be 6" or 12" or 2 feet away.
There is a minimum you need and in that area you dont have zip. Call the
inspector.

Phil Scott

2006-03-19, 4:21 pm

"m Ransley" <ransley@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:19892-441DB0B4-2102@storefull-3134.bay.webtv.net...
> Id be pissed you have no concrete thickness in that area you
> know. So
> its thin for a longer stretch and will crack away with time
> and pressure
> on it. If you see foam how thick could it be 6" or 12" or 2
> feet away.
> There is a minimum you need and in that area you dont have
> zip. Call the
> inspector.

You see.... thats correct.

Also there is no doubt AIR BUBBLES... that WEAKEN the
slab...and ROUGH SPOTS...that will RAISE the linoleum... and
DUST.... dont forget the DUST...that could get onto something
and RUIN IT.... also CRACKS.... the slab could CRACK in
half and one half could go north with the pacific plate and
other could so SOUTH with the south american plate and you
would have to be BI LINGUAL to speak with your wife.... not to
mention TOO MUCH WATER in the mix... no slump... the whole
thing could DISOLVE and sink into the ground water table and
be drawn away into everyones faucett..

then what would you have NOTHING.

accordingly the entire house should be torn down and the slab
REPOURED... no way in hell can we have a FLAW.

Phil Scott

>

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