There are only two types of concrete: the kind that’s already cracked and the kind that will crack. And the most concerning crack is one that water uses as a pathway to infiltrate the foundation.
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Your opening statement “There are only two types of concrete, the kind that’s already cracked and the kind that will crack” in my opinion was likely created by contractors to CYA by classifying all concrete cracks as a non-issue. This will likely save a contractor from having to repair or replace concrete that was improperly placed, concrete mix that was improperly modified on-site or was improperly cured. The secondary impact of this statement is homeowners are more likely to ignore visible cracks in concrete. For example a common shrinkage crack in a foundation wall in fact acts like a weak link in a chain. Future foundation movement horizontally or vertically will likely cause the crack to widen due to differential settlement or move horizontally due to external soil pressure. Now that crack homeowners are preprogrammed to ignore is yelling at them to take notice something is not right.
Example: If a driveway slab cracks because the contractor failed to cut the saw joints or failed to cut the joints deep enough then the homeowner has a legitimate reason to ask for repairs.
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I hear ya. But concrete does crack. In this article, we’ll explore how water serves as both the critical component in the original concrete mixture and the persistent destroyer that continuously seeks to pressure its way through openings (cracks). To keep homes with concrete foundations safe, functioning, and healthy, we must understand why concrete cracks and how water may not only cause these fissures but also provide telling clues about inadequate water management around a property.
No disrespect Ben, you’re correct concrete does crack. Water through direct contact or indirect contact through saturated soil pressure or settlement due to wet soil contribute to concrete cracking. It’s a personal mission of mine to educate homeowners to pay attention to concrete cracking regardless of what contractors say.