skip to main content

Home Repair Building a Home

Crack in Foundation Wall - 1 year old House

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

We are on a deadline for our 1 year old home warranty through our custom builder. We just discovered this crack in the foundation wall. Does it look like something to be concerned about and how should we ask the builder to address this issue? Does it simply need to be sealed or repaired?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

millworkman
3 years ago
No pic attached.
baseballmom94
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks, working on it!
Related Discussions
Foundation issues - or 'just an old house?'
Q
Comments (12)
My nearly two hundred year old home.....I am laughing........is so out of plumb there isn't a straight wall or rectangular door or window in the joint. The foundation, however is pristine. It is nothing but huge stone slabs, and doesn't even appear to have any type of mortar or cement to it. Prolly why it's been able to tolerate the expansion and contraction. I live in clay country. I am not afraid of this old house, and just plan to touch up plaster as an on going project and do one room a year as and if needed. I would really want a foundation assessed however if it were block before any problems got too far out of hand. The proper time would have been proactively, before purchase. Foundations scare me because I cannot see "minor" repairs where they are concerned. The big problem is getting somebody in who does not stand to profit from your problem.....if you know what I mean. It's very hard to take somebody's word about the severity of a problem if they can make more money based on how bad you need help. That's what some of these other threads have been about. Two contractors with totally different stories and estimates. Who can you believe? My ex.......a civil engineer........used to do home inspections. He stood to gain nothing if something was minor or major. The fee was modest and he knew what he was doing. I even asked him to come with me when I was considering a property for investment a few years ago. I'd rather hear the estimate then than later. LOL. Good luck.
...See More
Exterior Doors / 1 year old house
Q
Comments (1)
The ceiling molding may be a chronic problem. To cover that unsightly crack, you can apply a very thin bead of acrylic latex painter's caulk. Smooth it with a wet finger then wipe it with a small portion of a grouting sponge. You may have to do that for several years until the gap disappears. My daughter's house is 40 years old. We repainted it before she moved in. Caulked every unsightly seam and joint before painting. When it got cold in Columbus, the first gap that appeared was at the edge of the crown molding. It happens. It's best to get the door jamb repaired. It's not a big deal to do it. He'll remove the casing trim, saw cut the fasteners that hold the jamb, shim it plumb and reinstall the casing trim. You'll need to fill a few nail holes and paint, but that's better than modifying it with aftermarket weatherstripping. The other door needs a simple strike plate adjustment or a slight hinge adjustment. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! Michael
...See More
Why does my 20 year old house make such loud cracking noises?
Q
Comments (1)
Most likely expansion from different temperatures. There is another post on here with some other ideas. You may want to read it. https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6088458/why-is-my-home-making-loud-banging-sounds-when-it-s-not-cold#n=4
...See More
Help 1 year old pebble shower floor, grout deteriorating, cracks, etc
Q
Comments (8)
Im gonna insult you likely. yet its not my intent. These scenarios happen daily to the point of being an epidemic within our industry on account of unqualified labor. A red warning flag to A homeowner is A handyman willing to do PARTS of a tile install especially A shower build. In the professional tile world we dont engage in these scenarios for many reasons. The biggest being liability especially when we wrrty our work. This combined with Installing rocks on A foam pan tell me this guy is not qualified to work on your shower. Every tiler knows there is a high likelihood of failure when installing rocks on a foam base. You are experiencing point loads and there is no fix. Most true pro tilers avoid foam bases completely yet many novices swear by them.. Your best bet is to completely tear it out and this next 3X MORE expensive time around source and hire A qualified tiler. There are still a few tile pros here on houzz that would be happy to help any homeowner source a tiler in their area. Its just that nobody comes here to houzz asking for hiring help. Yet they always arrive angry with the disasters. Homeowners reading along You Always want to place the entire tile process SOLEY in the hands of the tile installer. This means allowing them to supply every material and installing everything from the studs OUT. including the subfloor. Adding to that A solid written contract with a detailed scope of tile standards to be met and followed. as an aside: " You don't remove it; you tile over it which is a TCNA approved method. No waterproofing risk. " tile over a disaaster !!!!!!! Stick to countertop advice buddy XOXO
...See More
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
3 years ago
Without knowing where the crack is located and how extensive it may be, foundation cracks such as this often suggest foundation movement, which is a no-no!

Do you have a slab on grade foundation?

Have you noticed any interior cracking, sticking doors or windows? If it was my house I would get a foundation repair company to come out and inspect, including measuring your floors in your interior to see if there has been any subsidence.

If there are foundation problems and your state has a mandatory warranty period for your general contractor, they may be required to remedy the situation. Don't ask them if there's a problem, however, until you have had the foundation inspected and have a report, since few general contractors will admit a foundation problem.

Good luck!
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
That looks like a crack adjacent to a control joint. I wouldn't worry about it. Don't be surprised if your builder doesn't.
PRO
Charles Ross Homes
3 years ago
While you're approaching the one-year mark, the statutory warranty period on your foundation may be longer. Here in Virginia, builders are required to warranty foundations for a full five years.

Concrete cracks and has since the day it was invented. It may or may not be due to a structural issue. For a basement-- where waterproofing is essential-- I'd want to know what type of waterproofing system was used and whether it will continue to perform as designed.
worthy
3 years ago
The mandatory performance guidelines that I used to build under required repairs of cracks of cast-in-place walls that were in excess of 6mm. For block walls, the limit dropped to 2mm.

As mentioned above, it may simply be a slightly off-centre control crack. But since you apparently don't have government mandated coverage, I would err on the side of caution if the crack exceeds the above standards.

I expect the builder will assure you it's "normal" and "not a problem." I can't recall a trade faced with a defect and who had been paid already conceding anything.

Related Stories

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: 800-Year-Old Walls, Modern Interiors in Provence

By Vanessa Brunner

Old architecture and new additions mix beautifully in a luxurious renovated vacation home

BASEMENTS Room of the Day: Swank Basement Redo for a 100-Year-Old Row House

By Annie Thornton

A downtown Knoxville basement goes from low-ceilinged cave to welcoming guest retreat

ARCHITECTURE Know Your House: What Makes Up a Home's Foundation

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Learn the components of a common foundation and their purpose to ensure a strong and stable house for years to come

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: 2 Old Cottages Become 1 Cool, Colorful Home

By Margot Hartford Photography

A central entry unites 2 small houses, creating a home with an open living area, private bedrooms and eclectic decor

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Laboratory House Bridges Old, New

Step inside a 10-year home design experiment in steel, wood and wonder

WALL TREATMENTS See What Happens When 1 House Takes On 8 Wallpapers

A designer dives into unfamiliar territory for a color- and pattern-loving Chicago homeowner

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: Old House, New Attitude

By Mary Jo Bowling

Artistic touches, bold colors and other modern updates take a 1930s Toronto home from typical to terrific

UNIVERSAL DESIGN My Houzz: Universal Design Helps an 8-Year-Old Feel at Home

By Becki Peckham

An innovative sensory room, wide doors and hallways, and other thoughtful design moves make this Canadian home work for the whole family

LIFE Houzz Call: What's Your New Year's Resolution for the House?

By Vanessa Brunner

Whether you've resolved to finally finish a remodeling project or not stress about your home's imperfections, we'd like to hear your plan

REMODELING GUIDES Know Your House: Components of Efficient Walls

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Learn about studs, rough openings and more in traditional platform-frame exterior walls

Sponsored

Frasure Home Improvements

2 Reviews

Franklin County's Highly Skilled General Contractor

More Discussions

Alternatives to patching brick

9

damage to marble?

6

help!!! need ideas!

11

Exterior Update to Tudor House

11

Peel and stick tiles over existing tiles (outdoors)

2