garage floor - InspectionNews

william siegel · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 03:58 PM

This is wire mesh showing through the top of the garage floor. Hopefully this was only on the garage slab. How harsh would you write this up??

Scott Patterson · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william siegel

This is wire mesh showing through the top of the garage floor. Hopefully this was only on the garage slab. How harsh would you write this up??

Pretty much what you said. You have no idea if this is in other areas of the home.

william siegel · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:18 PM

Scott,

No, and this is in a new home - well - built in 2005, never lived in, bought by someone who thought they were going to make a quick buck, and now it is in forclousure.

Jerry Peck · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william siegel

Hopefully this was only on the garage slab.

Hopefully.

Quote:

How harsh would you write this up??

Pretty much that way ... Advising them that "hopefully" no other places exist because, if there are other locations, there could be unusual slab cracking, popping of tiles as the WWM rusts and expands, rust showing through carpet because of the WWM rusting, and on and on.

"Deal killer"? Probably not, but certainly worth 'getting some money for' in case any of those 'unexpected' things happen.

How fast and far can you jab a knife without inflicting any damage (no contact, no scratch even) ... just scaring the bejesus out of them (the seller)?

Then settle your client back down with 'but the house is not going to fall down because of that, after all, *it just takes money* to fix those things'.

Richard Moore · #5 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 11:13 PM

I can imagine two scenarios…

The first is that the mesh wasn’t tied down that well and this corner floated to near the surface during vibration and screeding. Once the mesh expanded a little from rusting it popped off the concrete. If that is restricted to this one area in the garage, no big deal, but you have no way of knowing that. If there are other similar areas in the finished rooms then you could end up with strange lumps under the flooring even if the whole slab doesn’t crack.

The second scenario is scarier. In that the mesh was actually installed correctly but some cowboy contractor or sub pocketed a few hundred bucks by barely covering the entire mesh. In that case you may have a slab barely over 2” thick. That could lead to some serious problems and some very serious money. And…if they cut corners there, you have to start wondering where else.

If it hadn’t been for the one spalled area in the garage, you would have no way of suspecting problems. But now, having seen that one area, and without being able to determine much more than that, I think you have to recommend your client seeks the dreaded “further evaluation”. Especially as it's basically a new home and has yet to demonstrate any "test of time" qualities. A well qualified and respectable foundation contractor would be my choice.

Does anyone know if these guys have an easy, non-intrusive way of determining slab thickness, or would they need to drill some holes?

Rick Hurst · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 11:25 PM

"cowboy contractor"

And what in the he77 is that supposed to mean?

Richard Moore · #7 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 12:08 AM

ROTFL...

My apologies Rick. I haven't actually seen Brokeback Mountain, but I should realize that many of you Texans can be very sensitive.

Jerry Peck · #8 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Moore

I can imagine two scenarios…

The first is that the mesh wasn’t tied down that well

The normal way of doing WWM was (until a few of years ago when placing it on specially made chairs started) was to lay the WWM on the plastic sheeting (moisture barrier) and, when placing the concrete, use a rake to snag the WWM and pull it up ... to 'someplace' within the slab... and 'in some places' in the slab. You can rest assured that very little of the WWM was pulled up 'where it should have been', with some on that bottom of the slab at the plastic and some at the top as in that photo, however, (typically) when pulled too high, all they would do was stomp if back down (to the bottom, of course).

"Typically" anyway.