Cracking in concrete pad

[ploughman1963]

Hi
What level of cracking in a new concrete pad are acceptable? Are hairline cracks acceptable? Am I being paranoid/unreasonable?
Thanks

 

[NI farmer]

Got same problem sick
Concrete away to be tested
Trying to find out what went wrong

 

[ploughman1963]

Builder is saying that it won’t affect pad - no different to expansion joint - I am not convinced

 

[Richard98]

it obviously had expansion joints cut in it as normal? I wouldn't be too impressed with any cracks to be honest!

 

[ploughman1963]

Neither do I - however, it’s whether the situation can be rectified without forcing the builder to rip up and renew

 

[NI farmer]

Cut our cracks out and sealed
Not pretty
Hope it is leek proof

What went wrong not resolved yet but silage has to go in now

 

[SJM]

We had exactly the same in a pad which went down in September. Any pictures of yours?

 

[NI farmer]

No how did you fix it
Who's fault? if any

 

[SJM]

Haven’t touched it. Both builder and concrete company refuse to accept ‘blame’ and say it isn’t structural so will be fine.

 

[NI farmer]

Nobody thinks they are to blame here
Still waiting on concrete test results

 

[bumkin]

Nobody thinks they are to blame here
Still waiting on concrete test results

how big are the slabs in recent years we have had builders lay concrete with no expansion joints in my opinion a balls up the only was is to put proper expansion joints in its no use cutting a groove unless it goes all the way through

 

[David.]

We laid several strips, this time last year. Surface cracking is dependent on temperature and humidity the day you lay it, and occurs long before you could cut contraction joints. We laid one shed on a dull cold day, no Fibron fibres in mix, with no cracks whatsoever. Move on a week and tried the same again on a warm, 20deg+ breezy day and had cracks opening up despite watering as it dried.
Move on further week, same temp etc, had Fibron in mix this time and no cracks at all.
When I lay some more, If temp looks like being over 16 degrees or it will get Fibron regardless.
The fine surface cracks are unsightly but if base is sound and slab thick enough, probably have little effect.

 

[bumkin]

are we talking about cracking or crazing years ago we used to cover concrete with a wet tarpaulin to let it cure but now folk want to lay several loads a day of RMC also to eas leveling they add a lot of water and that can cause problems as it comes to the surface

 

[NI farmer]

They lay 100 meters plus at their ease
4 men

 

[Case290]

It always cracks, that’s concrete , what else is there. To reduce it lay it thicker and smaller sections at a time.
Don’t worry to much if it’s the correct thickness a few cracks won’t matter

 

[Greenasgrass]

Curing concrete correctly is the secret to preventing surface cracking. People get hung up on concrete strength and reinforcement and forget about the curing process. It’s well worth investing in a curing agent (90% efficiency) and applying it to the surface of the concrete.

 

[middletown]

good curing agent is the best answer on hot windy days spray it twice.