cracked concrete slab has patch in it-slab only 2-3 inches thick

[hands on]

MY 3 year old house built on a concrete slab has a new crack I found (the 6th one) in the floor of a room where I was removing builder (Veranda Homes LLC) installed carpet. The crack is 14 feet long and at one end was a bad patch job that was a 1 1/2 foot hole. I tapped on the patch area to find that it sounded hollow, then the patch crumbled. I found that my slab is only 2-3 inches thick in this area and not the required 4 inches by building code. How do I repair this hole? Builder is uncooperative.House is only 3 years old.

[Wayne Boatwright]

On Fri 05 Sep 2008 04:03:30a, hands on told us...

Dig a deeper hole and pour more concrete.

[hands on]

The original concrete was supposed to be fiber reinforced, what kind should I use to fill the hole?

[Steve Barker DLT]

YA, good luck with that.... LMAO!

s

[N8N]

Why is this funny? A house with code violations has reduced value on the market, buyer should be compensated for his losses.

nate

[Steve Barker DLT]

Two reasons it's funny:

1. He'll never re-coop his losses from a lawsuit.

1. Should have been watching as it was being built.

s

nate

[Michael Dobony]

Built in violation of code.

[Michael Dobony]

Why not? He will also loose his investment in this house with such a shabby foundation. Walls will have major cracking and will not appreciate in value. Op will have a difficult time selling if he does not get this dealt with immediately.

You are assuming he ordered the house. Many builders build and then sell. Can't do much about that. It is still built in violation of the building code. The contractor is in jeopardy of loosing his license if this goes to court.

[hands on]

.

I have a structural engineer coming today to give me formal evaluation for legal proceedings with builder and town that okd the slab inspection.

[Frank]

With lawsuits you'll never know which way it goes, but if the OP is in a strong consumer state with strong consumer laws, OP has a good chance to recoup, perhaps many times the actual lost. He could go after the builder, general contractor, concrete contractor, permit department and the structural engineer/architect who signed off the plans. All the above entities are deep pockets with million dollar liability, errors and omission insurance policies.

City inspectors supose to do that for you.

[Norminn]

Is this part of a complex of homes? Neighbors have problems? Slab poured by sub-contractor?

Have you written to the builder? County/state construction boards and licensing boards?

If ever there was a case for calling in the cavalry, this sounds like one.....attorney, prosecutor, etc.

[grasshopper]

Agree completely.

[hands on]

I contacted the builder, this was his response to my letting him know I had another crack and I wanted him to buy back my home- "My attorney will be in touch to discuss all your accusations and libelous statements. Any offer will be contingent on current actions in place." As you can see I am not dealing with a concerned person.

[Norminn]

I would do nothing to make further repairs to the slab. Write a business-like letter listing with precise wording describing the defects. Send it certified mail, with cc to state construction board if you have one, local building code authority. Of course a good attorney would be my first choice if I had the $ and expected better conduct from one than from builder. :o)

[hands on]

I told my builder I had a structural engineer evaluate my house and he found my home was not built to specs in the building plans. The guy could care less.

[Nate Nagel]

get a lawyer. make him care.

nate