ᐅ Cracks detected in the exterior concrete wall of the basement – what steps should be taken?
Created on: 17 Dec 2020 14:12
H
HeiniohnePlan
Hello gentlemen!
First of all, I hope you and your families have stayed safe through these challenging times!?
1. Yesterday, I noticed cracks in the concrete exterior wall of the basement at our construction site; please see the attached pictures:
2. I have reported this, along with the pictures, to our site manager.
3. This was the reply:
“Good day Mr. xxx,
I have taken note of your pictures. As an immediate measure, the cracks will be covered to prevent water ingress.
When the basement ceiling is poured, the cracks will be sealed and should therefore no longer pose a problem.
However, I must point out that entering the construction site without supervision by the site management is not permitted for insurance reasons.
Please take this into consideration.”
4. What do the professionals think about this?
5. How should I proceed from here?
6. What should I reply or request?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!
First of all, I hope you and your families have stayed safe through these challenging times!?
1. Yesterday, I noticed cracks in the concrete exterior wall of the basement at our construction site; please see the attached pictures:
2. I have reported this, along with the pictures, to our site manager.
3. This was the reply:
“Good day Mr. xxx,
I have taken note of your pictures. As an immediate measure, the cracks will be covered to prevent water ingress.
When the basement ceiling is poured, the cracks will be sealed and should therefore no longer pose a problem.
However, I must point out that entering the construction site without supervision by the site management is not permitted for insurance reasons.
Please take this into consideration.”
4. What do the professionals think about this?
5. How should I proceed from here?
6. What should I reply or request?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!
N
nordanney18 Dec 2020 09:02HeiniohnePlan schrieb:
6. Do I really have to notify the site manager every time I visit the construction site?After all, you have handed over the house rights. So, officially, "yes."
HeiniohnePlan18 Dec 2020 09:16Thanks @nordanney!
Yes, officially. Unfortunately, the full extent of my mistake only becomes clear to me too late, as is typical for me. The notary only mentioned that the general contractor needs to be on site to work. It never occurred to me that I would no longer be allowed on my own land.
In everyday practice, is a formal registration really necessary, or is that taking things a bit too seriously?
I would prefer to rely on a basis of trust. Isn’t that also common?
After all, I’m not there to measure every detail but mainly out of eagerness to see my home taking shape.
Yes, officially. Unfortunately, the full extent of my mistake only becomes clear to me too late, as is typical for me. The notary only mentioned that the general contractor needs to be on site to work. It never occurred to me that I would no longer be allowed on my own land.
In everyday practice, is a formal registration really necessary, or is that taking things a bit too seriously?
I would prefer to rely on a basis of trust. Isn’t that also common?
After all, I’m not there to measure every detail but mainly out of eagerness to see my home taking shape.
S
sascha-t4-le18 Dec 2020 09:30Hello,
I’ve never seen anything like this before. I think I know what happened. You can see some reinforcing bars bent back for some reason. I believe the bars were bent back while the concrete was still mostly unset, which caused these cracks. If you look at the spot where the rebar enters the concrete, the hole is open outward, which supports my theory.
The neighbor’s formwork has nothing to do with the crack.
As the client, I would be very upset. But what good would that do?
The reinforcing bars create a fixed connection to the slab. It should be checked whether this fixed connection is necessary for the wall’s structural integrity. For typical heights and loads, this is structural reinforcement. The bond with the concrete was compromised, so the rebar now has little effect. After all, you can also simply build walls and place the slab on top.
The only thing I can recommend is to ask to see the structural calculations and have them explained to you.
Best regards
I’ve never seen anything like this before. I think I know what happened. You can see some reinforcing bars bent back for some reason. I believe the bars were bent back while the concrete was still mostly unset, which caused these cracks. If you look at the spot where the rebar enters the concrete, the hole is open outward, which supports my theory.
The neighbor’s formwork has nothing to do with the crack.
As the client, I would be very upset. But what good would that do?
The reinforcing bars create a fixed connection to the slab. It should be checked whether this fixed connection is necessary for the wall’s structural integrity. For typical heights and loads, this is structural reinforcement. The bond with the concrete was compromised, so the rebar now has little effect. After all, you can also simply build walls and place the slab on top.
The only thing I can recommend is to ask to see the structural calculations and have them explained to you.
Best regards
HeiniohnePlan18 Dec 2020 13:44Thank you @sascha-t4-le!
I have forwarded this to the site manager and the TÜV inspector.
The TÜV inspector asked the site manager, or wrote to me, that
“the thermal insulation at the affected area should be removed and the exterior wall inspected or examined.
Only then can the extent of the damage be assessed and any necessary repair measures initiated. In case of significant damage, a structural engineer may need to be consulted.”
The questions are:
1. How can the damage be repaired if pieces break off at the top?
2. What formal steps do I need to take or initiate as the client?
A complaint or defect notification?
THANK YOU!
I have forwarded this to the site manager and the TÜV inspector.
The TÜV inspector asked the site manager, or wrote to me, that
“the thermal insulation at the affected area should be removed and the exterior wall inspected or examined.
Only then can the extent of the damage be assessed and any necessary repair measures initiated. In case of significant damage, a structural engineer may need to be consulted.”
The questions are:
1. How can the damage be repaired if pieces break off at the top?
2. What formal steps do I need to take or initiate as the client?
A complaint or defect notification?
THANK YOU!
sascha-t4-le schrieb:
The re-bending of the reinforcement bars took place while the concrete had hardly started to harden, which caused these cracks. Hello
I just noticed the same. In the neighbor’s photo, all the reinforcement bars are bent upwards (why is that?). This is exactly what should not be done. The bars are bent and installed. Now they are bent back and at some point bent again. This weakens the steel.
Steven
HeiniohnePlan schrieb:
Hello esteemed gentlemen!Hello HeiniohnePlanthat is not gender-inclusive.
The correct form would be: Hello esteemed gentlemen*innen.
Otherwise, the other 24 genders, including the felt cardboard box (which will later decide if it would rather be a wooden crate), are offended.
Steven
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