cracks in the slab - normal or an issue??
We just moved into an Eichler home. As we were pulling up the carpet and foam underneath, we realized we have 2 large cracks in the slab (each about 1/4" wide). The radiant heat was tested and showed no leaks. Is this typical for an Eichler? Do flooring contractors generally repair the cracks or do we need some sort or specialist or structural engineer?
Thanks for your feedback.
During a recent radiant heat repair, our heating contractor who is very experienced in radiant systems, told me that there tend to be lots of cracks in slab foundations due to settling. If you don't have breaks in the radiant heat and don't have moisture coming up from the slab, I would think you would be OK.
I'd like to know what others think about this. Anyone?
Concrete cracks and all slabs will have small cracks. Big cracks may be a problem, but it's unlikely that you will have a foundation problem, if your neighbors don't.
We had our radiant heating inspection done on a house we just bought and had several cracks as well. The guy doing the inspection said this was normal and that he can pretty much walk into an Eichler and tell you where the cracks will be based on the floorplan (because they are at certain stress points, usually radiating out from a corner).
We had our radiant heating inspection done on a house we just bought and had several cracks as well. The guy doing the inspection said this was normal and that he can pretty much walk into an Eichler and tell you where the cracks will be based on the floorplan (because they are at certain stress points, usually radiating out from a corner).
I hope your Sunnyvale Eichler didn't have significant cracks... seeing as you just resurfaced your floor with concrete. :wink:
What did the people doing the install have to say about that issue?
You have a good point about the fact that we just laid new concrete! The flooring guy told us that any settling the house was going to do which would have caused the cracks probably happened years ago, so not to worry about it too much. However, he also said, "concrete is going to crack". So I think we would have to be okay with that. :) We also recognize the fact that if we ever need radiant heating repaired, we are going to have to break apart a part of the floor anyway. No worries though, we are planning on putting a different color (like red or yellow or something) patch of square concrete if that ever happens. Might make our floor randomly cooler over time.
