Hi All.
There are circular cracks in this basement slab under the beams. Are there footings under here where the posts are supposed to go? This is a questionably built 2019 home here in Colorado. The steel posts are simply nailed to the basement slab. Some in these circles and some not. Thoughts.
Thanks!
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Steven, I can’t tell much from that picture. Do you have any others from a wider angle?
I for one have never seen a crack quite like that. Did you look up the span for the beam?
This is the only other on I have. There are two spans. One about 20 feet and one about 35 feet. There are a proper number of posts. But I would question placement if these cracks have footing underneath. NOTE: The slab is settling in other areas causing
long cracks as well.Usually that post will rest on a pad under the concrete slab. I’ve never seen a post rest on top of the concrete slab.
So, do you think those circular cracks are footings under the slab? That was my conclusion. The builder has had multiple lawsuits filed for numerous problems…
Thanks a bunch everyone!!!
GO Super Bowl Teams…
They are footings, either the foundation guys miss measured or the carpenter placed the joints in the main carrying beam in the wrong place, and it is common to pour the slab before the builder starts his framing placing the lolly columns on top of the slab but they have to fastened to the slab.
My initial concern is if those posts are considered “Permanent” or “Temporary”??
Secondly, there is absolutely no way to determine if there is a footing beneath that area of slab by looking at a pic on the internet. Just because there are one or more concrete repairs, does not mean proper footings were placed when the repairs were made.
Thanks for all the input guys.
Since this is a one year warranty inspection on a new build and these structural components were questionably installed. I’m going to recommend an independent structural contractor evaluate and come to their own conclusion.
A definitely agree with you there. I usually note this in my report that during a non-invasive, non-exhaustive home inspection determining if proper footings are there is not within the scope of a general home inspection. Or something along those lines.
Typical practices for basement floors are that a piece of sono-tube or a piece of a cut off 5 gallon bucket are placed over a footing pad where columns are supposed to be and left open when the floor is poured. Then when the framing crews come in, they put the columns directly on the footing pad and fill around it with concrete once the house is dried in. Most concrete contractors fill the blocked out area with gravel to make it easier to clean the area of concrete when finishing the floor. Some lazy contractors will not clean out the block-out. I see a piece of sono-tube that concrete was poured over and not cleaned out. Hence the circle shape of the crack. If you were to stab this crack with a flat head screwdriver, I bet you would find the tube just under the surface. If you see this again, tap the floor with the handle of a screwdriver and you should hear a distinct difference. Obviously this contractor missed the mark by a tad… BTW, I see this sort of thing all the time now-a-days from lazy contractors that don’t give a flip about the quality of their work…
Yes, That makes sense. That’s sort of the non technical conclusion I came to. But wasn’t sure.
Thanks again! And thanks to NACHI for this awesome forum and everyone who contributes…
If I come across a basement floor being poured in the next few days I will take some pics and post them on this thread for everyone.
It looks like the top of a pier trying peek out through the slab. The slab troweled over the edge of the pier giving it a half-moon look. And the column is not on the pier as it should be. Many AHJs want that column centered on the pier. And that is how I would write it up. We can only write up what we see and recommend other experts when appropriate.
BTW, I occasionally see steel columns on slabs and I see AHJs sign-off on them. So, if I don’t see evidence of trouble or failure, I move on.
Thanks a bunch!
Lon beat me to it. It looks like they missed the measurement when they poured the footer for the beam. and the slab was then poured over the footer that the pier was to sit on. the hairline crack is just showing the outline of the footer. in other words…
LOL 
Thanks
There is no way for anyone to now if there is a footing under that concrete slab unless you dig down next to it about a foot all the way around . Small cracks in the concrete slab could be for any reason , unless you actually see the concrete lower in that area . If the concrete is lower, that could mean that there is no footing under it . Since the house is fairly new i would think that the footing is there and i don’t know the building codes in Colorado but in Westchester New York before a slab is poured , there is a building department inspection done to verify that supporting footings and wire mash if necessary is installed at the proper depth and locations according to architectural plans .
OK, It took longer than I had hoped to put this together with the latest few cold spells we had. Here are some pics in different locations within Northern CO, with different builders, different contractors, different home designs, BUT all having a commonality: Footing pad with a piece of “sono-tube” used to block out the location of the column/post. ENJOY…
Yes, typically a footing form…but the ones with stones are often where you’ll find underground drain connections e.g. bath, possible toilet (Although not how I’ve done it.) etc.
