Realestate

Question: Why are home builders saying they are purposefully designing cracks into basement foundations?

(Posted by: Massage Therapist on 2010-03-19 10:18:59)

I'm wanting to purchase a home and builders (plus my real estate agent) have said that contractors are designing basements with a few cracks on purpose? Is this for a certain reason or are they lying just to get a sale?

Posted by: boredstiff8 on 2010-03-19, 10:26:07

If they are engineered expansion joints i would guess the may be ok................. but a crack? sounds odd...dont sound right avoid those people....especially if u are in an area that gets alot of rain

Posted by: Baxter D. Wall on 2010-03-19, 10:30:35

When pouring concrete they sometimes crack the underside, kind of like stress cracks. Probably same concept. If they know the area is prone to shifting and what not then its better to predetermine where the crack will be.

Posted by: c_kayak_fun on 2010-03-19, 10:30:37

That's ludicrous. Are you sure you understood what the realtor was saying? A correctly installed foundation should have expansion joints installed in it -- in other word, straight molded or cut gaps filled with an expansion material to allow for some movement of the substrate, but what contractor would deliberately create cracks in a building? You are being handed a line of bull if that is what they told you. An expansion joint will be straight and all across the unit of concrete, like the slots in a sidewalk. Anything uneven is a mistake and flaw and I would not buy it.

Posted by: Joe A on 2010-03-19, 11:39:48

Mam, you are being lied too. Someone wants a quick sale. Expansion joints should be straight, never crooked, and should have a filler. A crack is simply a crack, a flaw, a gap in the otherwise solid wall. Rain, moisture, bugs will use this gap as a highway and invade your basement. Also the structure might be damaged but hidden. A knowledgeable home inspector is your best bet. Do not buy anything until it is inspected.

Posted by: michael on 2010-03-20, 07:26:12

I believe what they mean is expansion joints. This has become a common item in home building along with using prefabricated concrete slabs.