I see this a bit here on at the edges of slabs and don’t really give it too much attention if it’s not widespread. Looks like just some air pockets and gravel settling towards the edge of the pour and sometimes the pipes being slightly exposed. I’m in the middle of SC so there aren’t really big concerns with freeze/thaw cycles. The reason I’m curious now is because a contractor told a past client that their home inspector screwed them and their foundation is failing. Now, while I know that’s not true, it did make me curious if I should be making more of a note when I come across this. Thanks in advance!
Google concrete honeycombing and see if that aligns with your observations.
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I’d say so, couldn’t figure out what to actually Google cause all my searches came up short! Thanks!
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The honeycombing is typically not a problem. I would say larger voids, loose pieces or cracking would be a concern.
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Just poor consolidation of the concrete at time of pour and poor workmanship.
Won’t hurt a thing.
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Around here it’s also referred to as popcorn. As @mcyr said,
Unless of course it’s segregation from pouring a very rocky mix at too high a slump. If that’s the case then the slabs strength would be compromised (causing the slab to “fail”). Your pictures just look like the contractor didn’t tap or vibrate the edges though. Piss poor work…
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It is indeed poor workmanship, caused during the concrete pour. A little rodding of the wet concrete in the area and it would not have happened.
What can go wrong? It’s unlikely to be a structural issue. But the voids are bad enough could allow termites to have a hidden highway up through the concrete and into the wood at the corner. It’s not that there will never be a crack in a foundation or slab, it’s just with sort of honeycomb concrete you’re more or less inviting them up, and keeping it all wet to boot.
It’s a matter of degree.
And termites are so hard to detect in the early stages.
To protect yourself consider writing it up, but softly, and recommend monitoring for pests.
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