I am in a pickle. I contracted for a home to be built and before I chose the builder I went to his sites and talked to his construction supervisors. I saw them using rebar and wire mesh in the slabs and asked if this was the standard. He said it was. Within 30 days I had signed a contract and waited for start of construction. 3 months later they started on the slab. I went to the site and talked to the sub doing the slab. He was ready to pour the slab next door to my lot. I asked, where is the steel reinforcement. He said the quit using steel in the slab. No rebar in the footings and no wire mesh in the slab.
I went around and looked at other slabs in the development and saw cracks in 5 different slabs running from 11′ to 25’+. One slab had a crack from the front of the slab to the rear of the slab. sepeparation was from 1/16″ to 1/4″ and they were filled with crack sealer. Some with separation in the sealer.
I have built 4 homes prior to this using steel mesh and rebar or Post Tension cables. All concrete cracks but never have had separation problems like this. The Superintendent says it is normal and not to worry but I am now retired and don’t want to have to deal with Slab problems down the road. What is the real skinny on fiber mesh (fiberglass fibers mixed in the cement) . Is it really a valid replacement for rebar in the footings? It seems to me once it separates there is a major problem.
Comments please I need tomake a decision.
Replies
Fiberglass fibers are not a replacement for mesh or rebar. I would insist on both and would be standing there when the concrete is placed to make sure it's done properly. Here in Florida not only is rebar a code requirement but the electrical system has to be bonded to the rebar as well.
concrete slab
Fiberglass fibers will not, do not and are not designed to take the place of conventional steel reinforcing.
Based on what little is known about your situation, you are justified to be very concerned.?
Where are you located? Are you building where a building permit is required? What do the construction plans show? What does your contract say about this? Did your contract state that construction would start in 30 days? Etc.,etc.,etc.
Get an engineer, get a lawyer or whomever, but you need to get it resolved before the slab is poured.
The Florida codes require two #5s around the perimeter of the slab and it has to be 12" below grade for the first 12" on the edge. You can get away with fibermesh in the rest of the slab but 6 over #6 wire is a lot better. Most of the fiber slabs I see crack too. That is why they need a membrane under tile floors.
Response to my replys
All,
Thanks,
I don't know what recourse I have now. Pulte (the builder) has refused to return my deposit when I contacted them and is forcing me to honor the purchase contract or lose my $20,000 deposit. This should be a warning to all who are buying from Pulte. They said this is their new standard for building....
Heaven help anyone else buying from them.
Have you tried suggesting that you will buy the wire? Bear in mind Pulte doesn't build anything, try talking to the concrete contractor.
Comments
His new standard of construction may not meet your state or local building codes. Call you local code enforcement authority and have them give you a copy of the applicable code sections on foundation and slab constructions.
With that information in hand tell the builder you will see him in court to get your deposit back. If you do not have a local code, go to the state level. In most states, local codes can be no less than those adopted by the state, but may be more. If the guy is not meeting code standards and getting away with it, I would also suspect something is crooked in the code enforcement department. If you suspect that, call a local news agency and tell them what you are dealing with. They love going after crooked public officials. With $20K at stake it is worth doing something other than rolling over and playing dead.
Just to add to that thought...if you find out he isn't up to code and you tell him you know it and you know what he has done on x other slabs, he will be much more agreeable to your conversation. In other words, let him know you are threatening him without threatening him. If you are to the point you don't trust him and want out, the implied threat that he will have to make good on a class action on several houses could be a very strong inducement to return your deposit in full.
The fiber will not replace the rebar. The rebar is there to reinforce the concrete and how much rebar is used is determined by the plans, which were drawn up by professional with a lic. and load with calculations done by an engineer.
Concrete is very strong in compression but not in tension or deflection (load) until deformed steel (rebar) is added. I longer on this dite a lot but I don't read very much about soil preperation. Before I can pour a slab (monolithic) I need a soil compaction test, at least in my area (SE FL). An engineer certifies that the soil hhas been compacted to a level of about 2500 Lbs per SF minimum and then I pour.
As the other poster said it usualy has two No. 5s at the bottom of the footing two inches off the ground and over laped at joints 18 inches or 30 times x dia. The plans also reflect this.
I would try and take a look at the plans. What did they say, And, talk to the engineer and see what he speced. I have have found (believe it or not) large builders in my area that self inspect. Sometimes things can get left out.
The slab should not be cracking like that. Ask them about the soil prep too.
The OP didn't say where he was but it is clear they don't have a wind code since he didn't talk ablout hooks (that get tied to the #5s). I also wonder what they are using for a ground electrode. Around here (SW Fla) you need a UFER (concrete encased electrode).
It is pretty normal not to have wire in the pour tho.