Narrative for explaining control joints doing their job?

Of course if the concrete is damaged I would report it as a defect. But this thread doesn’t talk about damaged concrete. Unless I missed something the original question was about telling nervous clients that there are cracks in the control joint where they are suppose to be cracks. Concrete cracks its given and known throughout the concrete industry. Control joints are an attempt to tell concrete where to crack so that it is more aesthetically pleasing. And this time it worked. See below.

They still sell it here but hard to find in grey. Now if you want almond colored, tubes a plenty.

Yeah this one kinda got off course a little… lol.

So what you are saying is that here we have pristine, undamaged concrete?

Unfortunately not all concrete does not have even some form of minor shrinkage cracking. However contraction joints are there, along with other techniques, to make up for poor engineering and/or installation of the concrete. In this example we are seeing not just a little hairline cracking in a contraction joint but what appears to be all joints cracking and in a significant manner. Can you verify that this is just “minor” shrinkage? Can you verify how deep these cracks run? Can you guarantee a homeowner that reinforcement isn’t exposed in the path of the crack? Why would you bother sealing these cracks if the concrete was not damaged?

In this particular case, the cracks shown would be considered typical, considering the age of the slab. It was obviously poured at a high slump, which is why the joints opened up as much as they did. The shrinkage was horizontal and the control joints did what they were inteded to. Had there been rebar used, these joints would not have opened in this manner, and the cracks would be random. Sealing the joints would keep water and dirt from getting into them which, in the winter would prevent ice from forming within the cracks should the garage get below freezing. Besides, it would make life easier if you had to roll a floor jack around on that floor…

Typical shrinkage or movement cracks noted at the garage floor slab and/or footing. Keep well sealed to be able to monitor for future movement or leakage.