I recently had a foundation poured with 8″ thick by 6′ tall walls. In the process of pouring the walls, a section of the aluminum forms popped creating a problem within 2′ of the outside corner. The wall in this section now looks extremely bowed out. The sub I used has begun chipping it away with a jack hammer in order to remove the bulge. I noticed a small section of the wall popping on the opposite side of the bulge and I am begginning to get concerned that this may be making matters worse. Is there a correct solution or better solution that can help remedy this situation.
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I personally would have had the sub saw cut the area to be removed in order to isolate it, but I'm picky. Saw cutting it should not be necessary if the concrete has had at least between three and seven days to cure. Concrete will typically reach 40% to 60% of its design strength within seven days (that's 1400-2400 PSI for a 3500 PSI mix). So, what your concrete sub is doing should not cause damage elsewhere except in the immediate area of the work being removed. There is a slight possibility that the concrete could crack further down the wall, but if that is the case then you probably have a mix design problem and not a quality of work issue. Mix plants mess up every now and then.
It sounds like your subcontractor is taking the correct steps by removing the deficient work. Form pops are not common, but they are also not unusual. Unless you see cracking several feet from the area being removed there should be no reason to be concerned.
I believe it would make matters worse. The "jack hammer" will break concrete in the wall as well as on the surface. A concrete grinder might have been a better choice of tools to begin with. Now though, if it is too far damaged (Pieces falling of inside means too far damaged to me.) I would have the whole section removed, have pins put in and re-pour in that area.
I apparently misunderstood the original statement. I thought the sub was removing the whole damamed section, and not trying to straighten the wall by removing the surface section that was bad. If that is the case then you are right there definitely is a problem. Yes a grinder would have been the answer for a surface repair, and not a jackhammer.
I didn't question the jackhammer because I assumed removal of the section. Yes the jackhammer will destroy the integrity of the entire section in question. Sorry, my mistake.
Oh no. His mistake!If the claw is sharp, who needs a saw?