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mlmdemko

Need some foundation advice

8 years ago

We are in the process of building a home. Our basement walls were poured and we are expecting to have a vapor barrier, insulation board, tubing and concrete floors installed next week. We noticed a crack in one of the walls and upon closer inspection realized that it started at the base of the wall where a piece of lumber created a gap in the concrete. Should this be repaired prior to work on the slab? Will this leak in the future? Our contractor says that it is nothing to worry about.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Comments (11)

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Is this the exterior or interior face of the wall? Will the exterior face be properly waterproofed, protected and backfilled? What is that wood framing doing in the concrete pour? What's under the wood framing in the void?

    These photos create more questions than answers.

    Can take photos with a greater comprehensive view of the work?

    mrgrt dmko thanked Virgil Carter Fine Art
  • 8 years ago

    ditto what Mark said.

    mrgrt dmko thanked robin0919
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I see why you are asking these questions. This is at the interior base of the wall. The dirt/rocks are the current basement floor. The crack goes completely thru the wall and I can fit a dime in it. I have no idea why there is wood framing there - that is one of the reasons why I am questioning it. There is only dirt under the wood framing. It has already been waterproofed on the exterior and backfilled but there is still this gaping hole at the base of the wall. I will get more photos tomorrow.

  • 8 years ago

    Are there no footings?

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Are you saying the builder poured a concrete wall with no foundation or stem wall under it? Something doesn't make sense here...more photos please!

  • 8 years ago

    Ok. Here are a few more photos. This hole does not have any footing under it. It is right at the base of a step down of the wall.

  • 8 years ago

    So there’s no foundation? That’s unusual.

    Is this reinforced concrete?

    Cracks like that can be benign or catastrophic. Difficult to say from a picture.

    The missing foundation (the wall on dirt is not a foundation) and the random wood piece are alarming.


  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Foundation cracks are fairly normal, but I don't like the looks of this one. The fact that it starts at the base of the wall and goes all the way to the step concerns me. Take this to your structural engineer for peace of mind.

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    If this is a basement wall, for which a house will be framed and supported by this wall...and there's no foundation under the wall...it's rip it out, put a properly designed and installed foundation in place and re-pour the wall. Do you have city or jurisdictional construction inspection? Time for a stop all work and contact with the city building inspector's office for a site visit.

    Has this builder been in business long? Have you given him any money?

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    There has to be some kind of support under these walls. This could be where the footing steps down or it could be a pier foundation. Without knowing how this was built it's hard to comment. This should have been drawn by a structural engineer and the re-inforcing inspected prior to pouring the foundation.