These are settlement cracks of no significance. The performance guidelines I build under require no repairs to any cracks in concrete floors or poured foundation walls that are less than 6 mm. (See link below, pp.24-28.) Were the wall cracks wider, the standard repair would be epoxy injection. Epoxy injection used to repair minor cracks in new home foundation. Photo: Heather Joy Investments Here is a link that might be useful: Construction Performance Guidelines

Without pics or measurements it's impossible to give an accurate answer. Shrinkage cracks are standard. As it cures, concrete shrinks about 1/16" per ten feet. The mandatory government warranty programme Construction Performance Guidelines I work under say the following about poured concrete foundation wall cracks: "1.11 CONDITION CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE FOUNDATION WALL IS CRACKED Acceptable Performance/Condition Cracks resulting from normal shrinkage are acceptable; cracks in excess of 6 mm in width are not acceptable. Warranty One-Year Work and Materials Cracks resulting from normal shrinkage of materials caused by drying after construction are excluded from the statutory warranty. Action Walls with cracks exceeding the acceptable condition shall be repaired. Remarks Concrete walls naturally crack during curing due to shrinkage. Where lateral or vertical movement is evident, further investigation may be required. The colour and texture of a repaired area may not match the surrounding concrete"

Wow, what a blast from the past. I posted on this thread over 4 years ago, and now it's back for a rerun.... All I can say is most of the same things I wrote above. Nothing has changed since the last post. I've lived in a home with Superior Walls for the foundation since 1995. At no time I have entered the "ATM bank accounts" phase so eloquently detailed above. I liked them so much in my first home that I used them again in my second build. The factory sent their own crew out to set the foundation, and it's been a wonderful basement for me ever since. The one problem detailed above was not even their fault, yet they sent a crew out to investigate and they left us a free tube of their super-duper caulk (or whatever it is), which my spouse used to patch the hole and it's been 100% trouble-free since. It's a warm, dry, clean cellar. I have no complaints and I don't know anyone who has a Superior Walls system who has any complaints either. I'm not even sure how to take this post. First you yell at everyone, then you post a follow-up that is just simply "he" - so I'm not sure if you're joking. (Was that supposed to be "he he"...or what?) I'm also not sure what the value is in yelling at a bunch of strangers on the internet, and then insulting them all for good measure too. Seems a weird way to make one's case, but then I'm the idiot who has liked her Superior Walls for over 20 years, so I guess that makes me a simple-minded fool. You've all been duly warned. LOL.

The thing about bitumen, mopped on "damp proofing", is that it tends to work as an effective exterior drainage plane, so long as: o It is not damaged during backfilling. A back hoe that drops its bucket against the concrete wall and bitumen coating during backfill will probably scrape off (or at leaste damage) the coating; o There are no cracks in the exterior concrete foundation/basement wall surface. If cracks take place, chances are very high that the bitumen will also crack (why wouldn't it?) with the result of a direct path for water infiltration. Clay and other expansive soil types expand with moisture and contract when dry. This continual annual "heave" is one good source of foundation wall cracking. If the hydrostatic level of the soil is high, the subsurface water pressure will force water into the foundation walls and any cracks which may be present over time. A plastic membrane, properly installed, will help to mitigate or prevent much of this since it is not impacted by concrete wall cracking (unless there is major structural movement or failure). You originally expressed concerns about concrete cracking. If you are truly concerned about cracking and movement, bitumen damp-proofing will not provide the necessary protection. Only a plastic membrane applied to a foundation properly designed and constructed for your soils conditions, including proper back fill, may do so. Good luck with your project.