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Fleckenzwerg18 Nov 2022 09:50Hello,
We are currently in disagreement with the general contractor (GC) about who is responsible for filling the gaps between the joints of the ground floor concrete slab elements. The GC believes this should be done as part of the interior finishing works or by the painter we hired separately.
However, the specification under the floor slabs section states: “factory concrete, construction joints filled once.”
The GC now claims that he only has to “close” the construction joints.
This raises two questions for me:
1) Am I mistaken in assuming that the gaps between the joints of the concrete elements are construction joints? If construction joints refer to something else, then presumably our painter would need to fill the gaps (probably twice in total).
2) Our GC talks about “closing” the construction joints. It seems he understands this differently than filling. What exactly is the difference?
Thanks for reading and
Best regards
We are currently in disagreement with the general contractor (GC) about who is responsible for filling the gaps between the joints of the ground floor concrete slab elements. The GC believes this should be done as part of the interior finishing works or by the painter we hired separately.
However, the specification under the floor slabs section states: “factory concrete, construction joints filled once.”
The GC now claims that he only has to “close” the construction joints.
This raises two questions for me:
1) Am I mistaken in assuming that the gaps between the joints of the concrete elements are construction joints? If construction joints refer to something else, then presumably our painter would need to fill the gaps (probably twice in total).
2) Our GC talks about “closing” the construction joints. It seems he understands this differently than filling. What exactly is the difference?
Thanks for reading and
Best regards
Construction joints do not refer to the joints between precast elements. Rather, they occur, for example, when a joint forms in cast-in-place concrete due to separate work steps. In my opinion, this is less common in single-family homes, as the work is usually done in one continuous pour.
The joints between precast hollow-core slabs are typically filled and taped by the painter before being plastered. This is how I know it, and I believe it doesn’t require much additional effort if plastering is done anyway.
In my case, for example, the drywall installer simply took care of it when asked nicely, especially if you’re willing to offer a little extra…
When building, you have to exercise your pragmatism muscle…
The joints between precast hollow-core slabs are typically filled and taped by the painter before being plastered. This is how I know it, and I believe it doesn’t require much additional effort if plastering is done anyway.
In my case, for example, the drywall installer simply took care of it when asked nicely, especially if you’re willing to offer a little extra…
When building, you have to exercise your pragmatism muscle…
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Fleckenzwerg18 Nov 2022 11:02Ok, then the painter has to do it.
There was no pragmatism at all during our construction. The general contractor (GC) is very strict about making sure every hammer strike and brush stroke is approved at their desk.
There was no pragmatism at all during our construction. The general contractor (GC) is very strict about making sure every hammer strike and brush stroke is approved at their desk.
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Fleckenzwerg5 Dec 2022 08:07Interesting update. The general contractor actually ended up filling the joints of the precast concrete ceiling. I don’t know why. I haven’t even brought up the topic with them since the discussion here. Now the painter just needs to apply the second coat.
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