Long 1/8" crack (photos) on slab-on-grade floor in Phoenix

Frank He · 05-09-2010, 09:44 PM

I just found out a 17 years old house in Phoenix area, which has a long crack on the interior floor. The house was build on a slab-on-grade fundation about 42' long and 25' wide. The crack is in the middle of the concrete floor and across the entir width of the slab as shown in photo.
There is no crack observed outside the house on the slab. Is this normal in the houses around 1990's in phoenix area? Any input ? Thanks.

If you can't see the photos, here is the link.

Additional inspection shown the crack edges looks even, no obvious displacement, no water penetration.
However, the center of the crack is higher than the floor on both right and left side. Look at the leveler showing about 1/8" over a 24" span.

Similar Threads:

**Nick Ostrowski** · 05-10-2010, 04:16 AM

I can't speak for the Arizona area but cracks like that in slab floors around here are pretty much par for the course. Without knowing more about this crack in particular, what I look for with cracks is progressive widening or separation of the crack, displacement of the crack meaning one side of the crack is higher than the other, or evidence of moisture penetration through the crack. In the absence of these symptoms, I am likely to chaulk it up as a larger shrinkage crack and just recommend having the crack sealed. We don't have expansive soils here in southeastern PA.

**Nick Ostrowski** · 05-10-2010, 05:17 AM

Quote away Aaron.

**Dan Harris** · 05-10-2010, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Frank He

I just found out a 17 years old house in Phoenix area, which has a long crack on the interior floor. The house was build on a slab-on-grade fundation about 42' long and 25' wide. The crack is in the middle of the concrete floor and across the entir width of the slab as shown in photo.
There is no crack observed outside the house on the slab. Is this normal in the houses around 1990's in phoenix area? Any input ? Thanks.

If you can't see the photos, here is the link.

Heck.. If you asked a builder this question here, he would say thats normal.

**Dan Harris** · 05-10-2010, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by Frank He

I just found out a 17 years old house in Phoenix area, which has a long crack on the interior floor. The house was build on a slab-on-grade fundation about 42' long and 25' wide. The crack is in the middle of the concrete floor and across the entir width of the slab as shown in photo.
There is no crack observed outside the house on the slab. Is this normal in the houses around 1990's in phoenix area? Any input ? Thanks.

If you can't see the photos, here is the link.

Heck.. If you asked a builder this question, here in AZ he would say thats normal.

**Raymond Wand** · 05-10-2010, 08:24 AM

Don't they put control cuts in the concrete slabs? If not the concrete could have had too much water and as result shrinkage which would make it a shrinkage crack as there does not to be any vertical or lateral movement. Likely has been that way since it was poured.

Ted Menelly · 05-10-2010, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by A.D. Miller

Is anyone else having a display issue with this site? This is what appears when I open a thread . . . the whole display is offset to the right and the text is not wrapping.

The Hann must be on the hookah again . . .

Chalk it up to bad wine or too many Margaritas over the weekend.

Frank He · 05-10-2010, 09:32 AM

This looks like slab-on-grade construction, no control cut on the surface.
The crack does rise up about 1/8" measured with a 24" leveler.
I don't know if the foundation edge cracked or not.
The house was build in 1992 in Phoenix area. We should have expansive soil.
I do not know if this sort of problem is common for the houses with that age and the severity of it.
Any input is welcome, especially on how often do you see it in Arizona.
Thanks,

Here is the link of pictures.

Ron Bibler · 05-11-2010, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by Raymond Wand

Don't they put control cuts in the concrete

That almost sounds like something you could EAT

(control cuts )

Best

Ron

Ron Bibler · 05-11-2010, 06:56 AM

If thats all you got after 17 Years... I would say its not the big of a deal...
But as an inspector I would say call in the foundation specialist.

We see stuff like that every day in my area. Its prefect for termites to get in or scorpion's

Best

Ron

**Dom D'Agostino** · 05-11-2010, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by A.D. Miller

The Shallow Foundation Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers has published some guidelines for evaluating cracks in slab-on-ground foundations based on the width of the crack. Their recommendation is that if a crack is 1/16th inch wide, it should probably be looked at by an engineer...

Big surprise, a group of Engineers recommending all cracks should be looked at by...... an engineer.

Ain't enough engineers in all the land to look at all the slab on grade cracks in our State, how about yours?

(The preceding opinion is not an endorsement to call, or to not call, an engineer for any or all slab on grade cracks.)

**Raymond Wand** · 05-11-2010, 07:43 AM

Its called self serving.

Have you checked your crack today?

Brought to you by your local PE.

**Dan Harris** · 05-11-2010, 08:54 AM

The house was build in 1992 in Phoenix area. We should have expansive soil.
I do not know if this sort of problem is common for the houses with that age and the severity of it.
Any input is welcome, especially on how often do you see it in Arizona.
Thanks,

It's very common here. A carpet company may be able to give you an answer on how common it is.
The chance of a home inspector catching this under carpet is nill unless there is a noticable deflection.