Cracks in concrete beams
Hi all,
Two days ago reinforced concrete beams was made. I discovered that some cracks appeared in them. Company which builds the house says it's ok and there is nothing to worry about. Still I am concerned as these are supposed to support roof. Could take a look at the photos and say if this is ok?
Comments (23)
PROJoseph Corlett, LLC
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Cracked Center Beam
Comments (2)I presume you are on a pier and beam foundation. The center beam should rest on concrete piers. Perhaps is there more than one lateral beams resting on piers? The floor joists rest on the beam(s) and then on a step in the foundation. It is common with dry rot to cause faults. Qualified foundation companies can sister in new pieces to repair both problems. Do you have any problems with wall cracks or doors shutting properly? If you do not have concrete piers you can still sister new wood to the good part of the center beam but you need to find a way to put jacks under the good part of the beam and then under the newly sistered section....See MoreCracked Support Beam
Comments (19)If the beam cracked but did not deflect, the crack is most likely due to age and normal checking from. If the strength of the beam had been compromised it would have deflected enough to be noticeable. So put a string along the bottom edge of it and see what has happened. And post a photo; there are different kinds of cracks. Is there some reason a new steel post and footing can't be installed?...See More1. Concrete render cracking and 2. Popping noises above ceiling
Comments (9)Thank you all for your replies, I really appreciate your expertise and sharing your knowledge, especially as this is my kid's bedroom! ci_lantro, the balcony is part of the house, ie. the concrete slab between the ground floor and 1st floor runs all the way under the balcony too. The roof above also rests over the balcony and has done since we built it, so I assumed that the foundation, slab, pillars and beams are the same throughout the whole build. The balcony rests above the living room downstairs, it doesn't stick out (for lack of a better explanation). The new walls are sitting on the existing concrete beams that the living room walls downstairs join up with. It might be worth saying that these walls have been up for over 3 years, the cracks are new in the past month. hemina (and ci_lantro and DavidR), the answer is no, we didn't have a designer or engineer help. We just put the walls up using local contractors... DavidR, your question is valid, I'm glad that you asked. We live in Cambodia, which is where our house is. There aren't many (if any) actual professionals in the building trade; it is very much all cowboy here. We have to put our faith in the fact there are millions of structurally sound buildings here and that these guys know what they are doing. Now I am sufficiently worried and have sought out phone numbers from friends of any builders that they know and trust. I will get it checked asap and take my children out of that room until it is deemed to be completely safe!...See MoreBasement Support Beam Cracks
Comments (3)Wow, just wow! So, no big surprise that if you cut through a support beam it will fail. That could have easily gone in the joist bay instead. You can buy inexpensive steel support jacks to support it temporarily on either side and then build a proper support with a concrete base. And yes, it's a very good bet there's asbestos there in that pipe insulation....See More
millworkman
3 years ago
PROGN Builders L.L.C
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
Stax
3 years agores2architect
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoMartin Lindmann
3 years agoSure I am back :) Thanks for all your answers. Well when it comes to names - I am not english speaker that's why I had to rely on translators. Basically this concrete element is on the top of the wall and wall plate goes on it:
When it comes to the sides of the element - I suppose if these cracks are not visible on the side - it should be fine, right?Stax
3 years ago- PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
3 years ago Stax
3 years ago- PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
3 years ago Martin Lindmann
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago@GN Builders L.L.C yeah I absolutely agree with you - I consulted engineer that oversees building and he said it's completely fine. Probably it's just me being paranoic. Just in case today form has been removed so I took few photos - looks fine I think since those cracks did not extend to the side.
res2architect
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoActually it's a poured-in-place concrete "bond beam" located at the top of a structural unit masonry wall to tie the structure together horizontally or as a lintel over an opening. This one is a perimeter bond beam at the top of one story walls.
Because the wall is hollow structural clay tile and the beam is formed with wood I suspect it's not being built in North America.
This is what a perimeter bond beam in a unit masonry wall would look like in the US:
res2architect
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago- PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
3 years ago toxcrusadr
3 years agores2architect
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
PROCharles Ross Homes
3 years agores2architect
3 years ago- PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
3 years ago
GN Builders L.L.C