Clay and rocks.................and a shift of the soil beneath is just my own guess.

Upper cabinets should be unaffected, unless something at the corner of the foundation near the bar area?

Maybe more than anyone wants to know.......did you have a ton of RAIN?

I'd get my cabinet folks, the contractor, ( the Taj folks as well) all there with the insurance folks, as soon as the extent is made known

Lets' ask the AI genius.........?

"Clay and rock topography cracks slab foundations through uneven support and moisture-driven movement. Expansive clay swells when wet, lifting the slab, and shrinks when dry, creating voids. Rocks beneath the slab create rigid, unyielding high points, causing the concrete to break as it settles around them or is lifted by the clay. How Topography Cracks the Slab:

• Differential Movement: Expansive clay soil expands up to 5,500 pounds per square foot (PSF) when wet and contracts when dry. This constant upward and downward movement forces the concrete to bend and break over time.
• The "Paperclip Effect": Similar to bending a paperclip back and forth until it breaks, the seasonal shrinking and swelling of clay soils gradually weakens the slab.
• Hardpoints (Rock) vs. Softpoints (Clay): A mixture of bedrock or large rocks (non-moving) and clay (moving) causes uneven support. The slab may crack at the point where it sits on a hard rock while the surrounding soil has shrunk, leaving a void.
• Upward Heaving: In wet conditions, expanding clay pushes up against the concrete, creating pressure that leads to cracking, often causing interior cracks and misaligned doors.
• Void Formation: When clay dries, it shrinks and pulls away, leaving empty spaces (voids) underneath. The slab then cracks under its own weight or the weight of the structure because it lacks support. "

Uncommon to see MDF trim wicking that much moisture unless the leak is in that wall or the water level was to the top of the baseboard. This does not seem like a slab leak to me at first glance, seems like a leak from a water supply line. You would need a ton of hydrostatic pressure for it to effect the floor in that way, especially if you have an impermeable membrane under the slab.

So

first though is supply line

I somehow missed the original post, despite the activity on it. Just chiming in to say that I'm so sorry you're going through another disaster in your beautiful home! I'm hoping the cause is easy to pinpoint and even easier to fix. Sending good vibes for blessings from the kitchen gods.

Oh NOOOOOO!! I am so sorry to hear this Shazia!

I agree with Rabbit in that it doesn’t seem like a slab leak. But, looking at the time frame from when everything was finished to now seeing the damage, I would guess one of two options.

One is a screw from the sheetrock hit plumbing. Or, when installing the baseboard a nail got shot through the plumbing.

It temporarily seals itself off until electrolysis takes place. Slowly the leak starts and spreads across the slab under the wood until you see the damage to the floor.

Try pulling the baseboards around where plumbing is located in the wall. You should see the water damage on the sheetrock. MDF baseboard is like a sponge so the water will also go up. Whereever you see the most damage to the baseboard is probably where the leak started.

Let us know what you find out. 😩

Okay, I just looked back through the thread and saw photos of when they busted out the concrete slab during the demo. The copper pipes in the ground run directly behind the bar stools and then turn to connect to the new island sink plumbin. It seems like the floor buckling is mostly behind the island stools and on the sides of the island. The copper pipes look very green/old, so could those old pipes be the culprit?

Maybe something happened during the demo to the copper pipes because they were older and thin to cause a leak? Then it took this long for the moisture to finally rise up through the concrete?

But, then wouldn’t they use a water barrier between the concrete and wood floor?

Oh man, I am just so upset for you! Please let us know what they determine caused this.

"But, then wouldn’t they use a water barrier between the concrete and wood floor?"

"seems like a leak from a water supply line. You would need a ton of hydrostatic pressure for it to effect the floor in that way, especially if you have an impermeable membrane under the slab.

So

first though is supply line"

Which leads to WHO said the slab had a crack? !

Rabbit and Rebunky have the same thought.

Thank you everyone, means a lot!

Here’s where we’re at so far. Mitigation company came out Thursday so we know where the moisture is. I’ll send pics when I’m back downstairs. (Currently we’re holed up in our guest room upstairs because the bed is here is more comfy than the hotel and it’s quiet from all the fans).

Insurance will cover the full restoration of everything bc it’s a slab leak - this was confirmed by American Leak Detection Services yesterday….which brings us to the discussion of what is actually a slab leak. I researched a lot to understand and this gpt explanation is a good one bc it’s exactly our situation - the water meter kept running when everything was turned off. It’s a cold water leak which is why all the water has been off since Tuesday.

——-

A slab leak is actually a type of water supply leak — but the key difference is where the pipe is located. The symptoms overlap, but there are some clues that help you tell them apart.

1. Slab Leak

A slab leak happens when a pipe under the concrete foundation of the house breaks or leaks.

Common signs:
• Warm or damp spots on the floor
• Floors suddenly warmer in one area (if it’s a hot water line)
• Water pooling along baseboards
• Cracks in flooring or foundation
• Mold or mildew smell from floors
• Sound of running water when everything is off
• Water bill suddenly increases
• Low water pressure
• Flooring (wood/vinyl) starting to warp or buckle

Why it’s tricky:
Because the pipe is buried under concrete, the water may travel under the slab before appearing somewhere else.

One strong clue:
If you shut off all faucets and still hear water running inside the floor, that often points to a slab leak.

⸻

2. Water Supply Line Leak (in walls, ceiling, yard, etc.)

A water supply leak is a leak in any pressurized pipe not under the slab — typically in:
• Walls
• Ceilings
• Attics
• Under sinks
• Crawl spaces
• Yard line from the street

Common signs:
• Wet drywall or ceiling stains
• Dripping sounds in walls
• Visible pipe corrosion or dripping
• Water under sinks or cabinets
• Water pooling in yard
• Sudden pressure drop
• Mold on walls or ceilings

These leaks are usually easier to locate because they eventually show up visibly.

⸻

Quick Test You Can Do (Very Helpful)

Water meter test
1. Turn off all water in the house
2. Make sure no appliances are running (washer, ice maker, etc.)
3. Look at your water meter
4. Wait 10–15 minutes

⸻

Signs That Strongly Point to a Slab Leak
• Warm floor spot
• Leak noise coming from floor
• Water appearing from baseboards
• Flooring buckling
• High water bill with no visible leak

⸻

So essentially there is a leak somewhere in the concrete (or below) which is common in Texas bc of copper pipes and the nature of the soil.

Thats why the water came ‘up’ from the slab and there was warping only and no visible water anywhere. Theres no water damage on the walls where the baseboard was ripped up where moisture was detected…but this seems to be more an instant type of leak, not slow going. The hardwood showed us right away and the warping happened so quick…within days after noticing the first sign.

@rebunky did I also look back at those pics of the concrete being busted too to see and also think what you suggested…yes. And I asked the leak technician about it. They use a Doppler type machine to pinpoint the leak and they found it’s under the cabinets/floor on the right side of the stove. You can hear the bubbling like you’re listening to an ultrasound. But I’m still suspect something is happening in the area behind the barstools because that’s where the warped floor first showed up. The only other explanation is the grading of the floor (bc there was always a slight dip in that area) caused the water to run down to that area and pool.

There is warping by the oven too and we don’t know the extent of moisture or damage on the back wall yet bc the cabinets have to be removed 😭. However the wall behind the fridge had a lot of moisture too so next step is they’ll be removing the cabinets…which is basically the entire kitchen bc everything is continuous in our kitchen.

To be continued…

^^^^^

OMG.................................................: (

Which begs the next question…how to tackle this whole situation to preserve our beautiful kitchen (and my heart!)

This is where I see our next steps and I have to wrap my head around some of this and take the best approach. My goal is for the kitchen to look as good as it did…in the easiest way possible

1. Fix leak - they are recommending tunneling instead of jackhammering through the concrete. This is very typical for Texas slab leaks and easier apparently. Anyone have any expertise here bc I don’t care which way they do it…but I want to make sure it’s done right.
2. ‘Demo’ the kitchen. They’ll remove the cabinets and counters (how can they do this nicely and where will it be stored?) and pull up the flooring (wood planks, plywood, membrane, etc)
3. Insurance will provide us a temporary home…this is the one I’m feeling resistance too. I want to not be displaced again and then have things take longer than they need to. I’m still in some denial so words of comfort here are appreciated. Y’all…our home is so beautiful and organized and lovely…and I want to be positive but I’m simply human at this point.
4. Insurance will come inspect and then discuss option for build back. We have Farmers and they’re great (we learned last time!) so we’ll likely need to determine our choice of contractor and they’ll cut us check(s) as needed.
5. Schedule trades. I have reached out to our cabinet maker and we’ll likely use our same GC for the flooring and everything else.
6. Take things one step at a time. My husband said something that was grounding…he said with everything happening to folks these days…this is one hard I can deal with. And he’s right. Even though this is UNEXPECTED…we can do it!! Please remind me this as I navigate the next few months!

If anyone has any suggestions/tips/expertise in any of this process…please do share!

We shall get through this bc our kitchen is counting on us!

(The post above took out my numbering..not sure why! But I hope it reads as 6 steps)

One saving grace with tunneling is once they’re in, they will pinpoint the exact issue and fix it.

This is ‘only’ a $5-7k fix for anyone following and wants to make a silent wish that this never happens to you! 😂

@Shazia thank you for the excellent explanation and education. I'm sure everyone is mortified at your situation and extremely sympathetic. Thank you for sharing your husband's wisdom. He sounds like a man of great strength and experience. So can you also ask if all that water took away some of your sould under your slab? Can you ask if there is a way to mitigate any loss of soil supporting your home? This concerns me.

Your water bill actually may tell you the story of what happened.

You will find out sooner or later by the Professionals who are investigating on site. They can see it in person and ask you questions in order to understand the whole story. But, in the meantime… just curious….

Did your water bill jump up suddenly at some point during the renovations?

Or possibly, did it slowly increase or fluctuate a little each month since the reno started?

You talked about this happening “again” as far as an insurance claim. Sorry, I can’t remember. Will you please remind me of the reason for you originally redoing the kitchen? Was it an insurance claim due to a water leak as well?

Regardless of the reason for the water leak this time, those old copper pipes in that demo photo are still very concerning to me.

Just curious… Did your GC or the plumber ever recommend replacing those copper lines while the floor was jack hammered up?

""

Those old copper pipes in that demo photo are still very concerning to me.

As to copper pipes.....

These last 50 to seventy years! Can go as long as a hundred. I still remember my grampa and my dad re plumbing the entire house, getting rid of the galvanized and and 40 years later not one issue as the parents moved out to assisted living,

At a connection.... some pin hole sized thing? Perhaps, But ugly pipe doesn't mean much.

Latest update: point of leak is exactly where @rebunky suspected. sigh. also to your question, the original remodel was born out of a burst pipe during the freeze of '22.

We had the entire remodel permitted by the city to ensure there would be no issue...but here we are.

Based on location, they are doing a slab penetration plumbing fix which avoids tunneling and the slab issues that introduces. We will also know then exactly what happened.

The one great piece of advice we got from a plumber was to wait until all the floors were up. In our case, b/c of real hardwoods (plastic + subfloor + waterproof barrier + the actual 3/4" wood planks), leak detection can be skewed. We chose to wait for the floors to come up and have another leak detection - which saved us money and headache and new problems introduced via tunneling -b/c the leak was ultimately detected almost 10' further than the original spot.

Tomorrow is the plumbing fix.

Mitigation is nearing the end.

Reconstruction begins next month.

I don't even want to show you pictures of the state of our kitchen b/c you will cry. No seriously, @JAN MOYER, you can't look.

Our next step is to get bids on the reconstruction. I want everything to go back exactly as it was and fortunately, everyone is treating everything as luxury product - which it is.

Our cabinet company, Prime Design in DFW, is coming out tomorrow to assess the cabinets situation and we will have them repair/build back/install our cabinetry. I trust no one else. They are the one trade that we will recommend to the moon and back for quality product and professionalism through and through.

If anyone here has a trusted GC and/or flooring trade and/or fabricator trade in the DFW, please share. I will take my time to take bids and get the right people in for the remaining work.

Now that I've become seasoned at remodeling my home (this is so funny and sad at the same time), I know that good trades are EVERYTHING.

Send good jujus and any questions that you may have. I have been thinking about how my experiences can be of help to other homeowners.

So sorry to hear this Shazia. We lived in Richardson for 7 years and needed to do extensive slab lifting on our home. That dang TX soil is brutal. We’ve been gone from that area for 10 years so can’t be of much help. Wishing you great contractors to get you back in and settled.

Pipes burst in 2022 and now a slab leak in 2026???!!! Wow - that really is awful.

I am now wondering if what I'm picturing in my mind re: the current state of your kitchen is better or worse than reality . . .

So sorry that you're going through this - again. 😢

Oh, Shazia, I wasn't able to follow your first journey, but I am just sick hearing about this. I also live in the Dallas area (Plano), have the same terrible clay soil, and have lived through a slab leak. Mine was basically in the center of the house under newly installed porcelain tile. We made the decision to lift carpet in an adjacent bedroom, cut the slab, and tunnel in to the site. The location of ours was more obvious than yours because it was a hot water line and suddenly became our cat's favorite place to lay. It sounds like you are on your way to recovery. I wish you all the best in the upcoming months.

@Shazia have you got a plumber's quote for a full rerouting of the plumbing to an overhead system? After learning about slab leaks in Texas I would have to do something to prevent that from ever happening again before I did any other kind of work. Apologies if you already mentioned that somewhere in the post.

Thanks all. @thinkdesignlive @melindas1977 - y'all know the craziness we get here in Texas! I don't even know what to say at this point b/c we've dealt with it all now in the last 5 years. Burst pipe from freezing temps b/c pipes are on exterior walls, hail storms that take entire neighborhoods out, and now...this slab leak. I grew up on the east coast and barely heard about any claims.

@kl23 we have a 2 story house so an overhead system won't work in our case. 3 plumbers all said we couldn't reroute for that reason.

Good news - the leak was fixed today. They replaced entire fittings on the hot and cold lines at the manifold. The leak was found on one of the fittings the remodeling plumbers soldered in on the cold line...so I requested it be changed at the hot line too. If there was one point of weakness b/c of soldering, it could be an issue down the line on the hot side too. The rest of the plumbing in the house seems to be solid so I'm crossing my fingers this is the last of issues to deal with. We are also going to install a Moen Flo water control meter to prevent issues in the future too.

Fixed plumbing

I'm happy that your plumbing is fixed! What is the schedule/plan for the rest of the kitchen?

Mitigation ends this week and then we’ll start taking bids for reconstruction/build back.

Cabinets came out today and said they need to remake everything bc the cabinets were too compromised. So we’re going to take things one step at a time!

So glad you took preemptive measures. I have friend who actually had two slab leaks about six months apart (different locations in the house). What nightmares are made of.......

Glad to hear they fixed the leak, and hopefully you’ll get your beautiful kitchen back just as you remember!

Jan mentioned above that copper pipes can lasts a long, long time. That is very true, as long as they remain undisturbed. They don’t like being messed with. 😤

I hope they will be extra gentle adding back the concrete!

I’m trying to remember, was their something with they cabinets that was slightly off from the final design, but that you decided you were ok with? Was it that they did the shaker instead of slab on the top drawers? I feel like there was something else too. I just figured since they have to redo the cabinets anyway, maybe you could have those few mistakes fixed?

Please keep us posted!

So we have officially been told by insurance that the ITEL report said that the cabinets are not repairable so that's that.

@rebunky yes to your question about the small things that we could get fixed this go around.

I can't believe we're here again, but here we are again. :)

Sympathies @Shazia

Hiiii!!! Do you know where I can source this hood style?

Sorry for the late reply Shazia!

If I remember correctly, I had posted way upthread a photo of a hood similar to that one in response to Rabbitt saying yours was too boxy. I agree that this curved shape would be an very nice improvement.

Look up plastered hoods. Basically, your contractor would frame out the hood’s shape and then add a plaster finish and paint it to match the cabinets.

Please keep us posted on the progress! 💕

Thank you @rebunky! That’s what our GC told us too and I didn’t realize it could be that easy! I was scouring this thread to find @jan_moyer original hood style but I couldn’t get back far enough to find it!

However, here’s the hood I’m thinking about bc guess what!!! I’m getting all new counters and we will get the third slab of Taj to do as the full backsplash!!! The light at the end of the tunnel.

Here’s a rendering (as good as AI can do for now). I had it show me various hood options and I loved that soft curve in the current kitchen.

My current contractor is exploring if we can reuse the cabinets bc they are in great shape and I don’t know that I want to wait another 9 months to get the same cabinets made again! And my heart and mind don’t have the capacity to redesign the absolutely most beautiful kitchen already!

But the Taj backsplash and hood are exactly the update needed (which y’all clearly wanted from the get go!). The plaster on the hood will add that additional texture and be a nod to our plastered fireplace directly across the hood in the family room.

I’ve included the rendering of the final look but obviously this has to be made to scale!

p.s. who’s interested in designing my upstairs bath together? We’re going to get it done while we have contractors back in the house. I’ll start another thread if y’all are interested! Just emoji this if you’re IN!

Oh and other small changes:

I’ll get the glass shelves y’all wanted and change out the glass on cabinets! I have to go find the name of that glass that was mentioned here.
Adding a light at the beverage station. It’s too dark in that corner.

Sooooo…great news. We are doing three new slabs of stone.

We really fell in love with this Soho quartzite we found. The picture doesn’t do it justice with the tonality and iridescence but it was both of our favorites.

I still like Taj but is it possible to be over it now? DH certainly is.

He is wanting to do this soho on backsplash and perimeter…and then do something bold on island. We’ll change out the stools too this go around. I think his idea is valid but we would have to get the stone justttt right.

Thoughts?

I like the stone! However since it is very light have you discussed how it will hold up to stains? https://seremodeling.com/how-to-remodel-a-kitchen 

Shazia I followed your previous kitchen remodel. It was truly one of the most gorgeous kitchens on Houzz. I am hoping Jan, Rebunky, and the others see your new post.
In regards to the new slabs…IMHO they don’t have the personality and class (for lack of a better word) as the Taj you had previously. Taj has a more feminine feel, with the curves of the veining, the other stone feels more masculine and that may be why your husband likes it
I’m sure whatever you decide your kitchen will be fabulous, you have exquisite taste.

"He is wanting to do this soho on backsplash and perimeter…and then do.......... something bold on island. We’ll change out the stools too this go around. I think his idea is valid but we would have to get the stone justttt right.

Thoughts?"

One decision, not TWO. Meaning NO, NO AND NO?

Sorry to DH, what goes in the backsplash/perimeter..........GOES ON THE ISLAND.

Do not mix two stones. also, make certain that IS a quartzite as they are often, varying by stone yard renamed, and confused.

It matters only to you and DH when you love a stone. I loved the Taj, and there is no argument here, that we've all used it a lot. That is because while yes, it is both calm, warm and lovely its basically very hard to ruin in even a very active kitchen,

@Jan_Moyer has entered the chat💃🏽My weekend has been made!

Happy 4th of July to all celebrating 🎆 I will certainly not be staring at the concrete hell that is currently half my house (pic attached) 😂

Now onto stone, thank the lord that you nixed the different one on island Jan! It made me think of those custom kitchens in the 80s/90s that promptly aged the mansions house as soon as the trend was over. And tbh, those stone counters were absolutely gorgeous and rare. It just dated the home and I do love timeless. I still love what I love years later. Anywho I digress.

SoHo is quartzite and very durable. The rep at the showroom was kind enough to be transparent about which stones to stay away from due to staining issues (Tahiti and Mykonos she mentioned in particular) but said SoHo is great!

We absolutely loved this stone in person. It actually glitters and when DH said it was top of his list, I did feel validated inside.

I doubt my taste at times bc timeless can sometimes equal basic but other times it’s classy…and this is why designers make the decisions and not me or DH 😂. To his defense though, he is a handsome man with refined taste. The cigar lounge to my airy feminine.

@amateurdeziner - thank you for your kind words, they meant a lot! Re: the slabs, I don’t think the pics are doing the slab justice but the stone is so pretty that it actually glitters. It’s like I have enter fairyland but on Jupiter.

But let’s talk Taj since we’re all here for it. So I love Taj. I also have 6 remnants of it now so it’s going in upstairs bath vanity, maybe in our pantry, and maybe on fireplace.

The thing is Taj is on my short list for sure. But is it possible to tire of it? I don’t have to be the most unique kitchen on the block but everyone and their mom is doing it in Dallas now. And it’s beautiful in our kitchen of course and I would be happy with it. We would do a leathered finish this go around. And we are getting 3 slabs bc I understand the assignment now and checking bundles so we’re getting full height backsplash!

BUT DH is officially over Taj. And I wouldn’t be sad without it.

SoHo would look darling in our kitchen (but tbh, any stone would look darling in our kitchen!). They have a honed option in Austin that I may formally ask to be brought over so we can see it. We do like the matte finish in most slabs unless y’all say no.

And that is the current slab saga.

The End.

Ignore me if you want, but wasn't it perfect before? Why not replace it exactly as it was? Like I said. Ignore me if you want.

I'm getting the hint over here re: taj, lol! Definitely not going to ignore you @kl23! you're part of the team too.

it really was perfect before but also, it would be even more perfect with the full height backsplash and different hood (I still need to go through this thread to see what Jan's original hood plan had been before we had to work with the limited stone in round 1). since we have to build back from scratch anyways and are getting new slabs, it did open up pandora's box...

Thanks @Shazia

I'm planning the renovation of my own kitchen and have chosen to extent the backsplash to the ceiling and also beyond the cabinet area to include the entire wall ending in an interior corner. So I couldn't argue with your backsplash thoughts.

I have chosen an invisible hood that tucks inside cabinetry. But I like a contemporary look, and you are heading towards more traditional. I can't even choose my cabinet stain and tomorrow will be my third attempt, so you ready can ignore me, especially with someone like Jan helping you.

@kl23, is someone helping you with stain?!

Also I’ve never heard of a hidden hood in my life

Oh you’ve seen hidden hoods in many kitchens. They’re the ones integrated into cabinets and are usually called “inserts.”

Ohhhhh, the actual hood vent! Yes, we have one of those too, lol!

haha!

My understanding is that Soho quartzite is more accurately categorized as dolomitic marble. It can scratch much easier than true quartzite and is highly porous. It has good heat resistance - but takes much more maintenance in order to minimize potential staining. It also is subject to etching.

You need to take a piece of it home with you in order to test it out with various substances that could stain (mustard/wine (I know that you don't drink wine - but I would still use a little red wine to test the slab)/oil/etc.)

@Shazia yes, I hired a local interior design who uses Houzz in addition to the contractor's kitchen designer. We chose a stain now. Part of the problem for me is that the small sample was perfect but the larger door sample was noticably darker. I've since decided that's ok. The hue is perfectly chocolatey. Here's a link to my downstairs project with links to previous projects:  https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6372549/renovating-the-main-floor-of-this-1979-split-level-builder-grade-home

Quick paint question as they’re going to repaint in a few weeks.

Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
Cashmere line
Wall paint - Flat
Baseboard - Satin
Cabinetry/Trim - Satin

Is this correct?

Wait are you all saying that contrasting island countertops is a no go? I feel like I see that all the time on here. We were hoping to do a contrasting island with both cabinets and countertops. White/off white cabinets with honed black granite on perimeter, and darkish wood cabinets with light non busy granite or quartzite on island. Is this a bad idea?

Edited to add a few inspiration photos. None of them is exactly right but this is the idea. The island and floor will be dark wood with no red tone.

Ok, we listened to y’all and selected this stone. Leathered Taj!

But now send good jujus bc the third slab is on hold so only 2 slabs available.

However, we’re not looking for a unicorn so if this one doesn’t work, we’ll look at other bundles of leathered Taj.

DH loves Crystallo (I don’t)

And we both loved this marble but…it’s marble. 😭