I build my home about 12 yrs ago. As a hobby I have built the last 4 houses I have lived in. I hired a company to put the footings, foundation, and flatwork. Last year I noticed that the garage foundation is starting to crumble to where the stones used in the concrete mix are starting to show. It looks like only only the smooth surface of the concrete is crumbling and not the inner. The foundation on the house is not affected just certain areas in the garage foundation. Is this something that I could use a concrete mix or motar to cover those exposed areas where the outer surface of the foundation has crumbled? Has it been too long to call the company who did the concrete work?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Source control, ventilation, and filtration are the keys to healthy indoor air quality. Dehumidification is important too.
Featured Video
How to Install Exterior Window TrimHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
If we knew where you lived we could help you better..Please click on your name and fill in your profile data..
For example is the surface crumbling because of the use of salt from roads? Did the surface freeze after it was poured? ETC.
No to a thin layer of concrete because that will likely crumble as well.
I live in Michigan and I live out in the country. The road is about 100 ft from the house. I have not used salt in the sidewalk in front of the house or the patio that butts to the garage in rear of the house. No freezing weather when the concrete was poured. It was late spring when it was poured
Your tires will carry salt on them from the road.. If the main area lost is near the tire tracks it's spalling and has nothing to do with how it was poured.. if the whole area is spalling then it may be more likely that a defect occured during the pour..
The likelyhood that the concrete guys will step up to the problem and fix it is too slim for me to waste my time. You might feel differant and want to seek a solution through them..
In which case, good luck, I hope you are successful.
there is a patch that works. I would go to a manons supply store and ask the pros if no one responds. I have done it in the past, just can't remember the mis I used.
Who bought the concrete from the concrete supplier? You or the concrete sub?
concrete was ordered by contractor from a supplier. Foundation looked good till two years ago
I've seen concrete guys add too much water to the mix at the job to make it flow. It's not really supposed to flow, that just makes the mix weak and prone to flaking or cracking or worse. If the surface that remains is not too flaky or powdery you should be able to add a layer of stucco to dress it up. On Long Island, it used to be common to stucco the exposed surface of the foundation wether block or poured , but I don't see it done mcuh any more. I may be mis-using the term stucco, what I mean here is just a one coat layer of mortar type mix, the details of which are beyond my knowledge.
As for calling the contractor 12 years later, I'd be surprised if you got a response let alone any satisfaction. But I guess it doesn't hurt to try.
12 years... I missed that part. I'd be surprised if he could even find the sub...
You can get spalling like that if the concrete dried before it cured. Is this above ground? How long were the forms up?
Wooden forms and spots where there was no form oil can suck the water out of the mix. Ussually some of those dry spots will stick to the form when it is pulled, and most foundation guys now days, pull the forms within 24-48 hrs. of the pour. If they get some pull off on the forms and bother to fix it, they likely just rub it up and slick it over with a steel trowel. The fix will last for years if it is done correctly.
yes, the spalling is above ground and I have not digged to find out if it is below ground level. Forms were left in a few days
Simple spalling, not uncommon in cold country. Relatively easy to patch with a concrete patching mix. Any home center should have a selection to pick from. I've had good luck with the products from Akona.
Just a guess here but is it possible that you have water penetrating the crete and being held by the concrete in those areas ( snow drift? splash area?) and it is freezing ?
dovetail made a good point.
What kind of flashing detail do you have at the top of the wall ?
Thoroseal products are also good for patching. I like them because they mix with an acrylic product called Acryl 60 that is also good for prepping the patch site.
perhaps I should mention that before the surface started to crumble, thn area where the concrete crumbled off it seemed like salt had been added to the concrete mix before it was poured and it was bleeding through. So maybe they did add that kind of additive to the mix. I don't recall the proper name for that additive but the supplier adds it to the mix when they pour during winter. But the concrete on my place was added late spring and it was warm
The "salt" may have just been efflorescence. You commonly see it where water wicks through concrete. And it often causes spalling.
Conscience is the still, small voice which tells a candidate that what he is doing is likely to lose him votes. --Anonymous
Sounds like they used calcium chloride. Not uncommon in cold weather pours but they need to be real carefull about how much they add.
I've seen flatwork spall in less than five years when calcium clhloride was added. Unless it is going to stay below freezing for several days after the pour, I would never use it. The heat of hydration will most pours through the first 24 to 48 hours. After that blankets and straw for another 48 to 72 hours will take it past the danger point. I don't ever remember using calcium in foudation wall pour. Just leave the forms on for four or five days and keep blankets over the top.
Calcium also weakens the final test strength of the mix too. I can't remember how much. Maybe BB wil chime in a tell us.
You always want to minimize chloride ions in concrete.
Jeff