New construction with new builder – lumbers, slab
Hi, y’all.
Big thanks for y’all guys after your answers to my previous questions. Particularly Bill, Spence and Walter. I made right decision and canceled my contract. You helped me to do it.
I signed contract for new construction with premium builder in the same city(community is different and better). Now I’m under contract for 1 story home(instead of 2) and plus 80k$ comparing to previous home. Builder has one of the best reputation in the our area.
One week ago it was just foundation. On that step I didn’t see any issues.
Now framing is started. Lumbers are much better.
On this step I found few moments, that I’d like to discuss\ask our community. I understand that you can help me to find right way on the each step 🙂
Some parts I see first time, so please, tell me is it ok or not.
1) I see white mold on 3 vertical boards in the frame.
Pictures 0.png , 1.png and video: https://youtu.be/FbykXVZIKgs
Wood is solid and not soft. Just white mold. Seems it’s “Phellinus pini”. Should I worry about this?
2) Strange lines on the foundation. Looks like small cracks. I can’t even insert a sheet of paper
Pictures 2.png,3.png and video: https://youtu.be/olsIkgl0SUc
3) Sometimes they have foundation and frame mismatch. Sometimes up to 1.2 inch
Pictures 4.png
4) The developer left under some angle for the weekends
video: https://youtu.be/-JMHjVYeSgw
In general I’m happy that I moved to this builder. But would like to avoid any issues, so I’m asking your opinion.
Thank you very much for your time.
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Replies
1. No.
2. There are two kinds of concrete. Cracked and gonna crack.
3. Not ideal, but happens all the time. Sometimes you have to adjust a bit to keep the house square.
Thank you, Andy.
I like your phrase about a concrete. :) I understand that technically I'll have guaranty for 10 years from the builder. Also I understand that it's common issue and cracks like "spider net" can be after concrete compression. In the internet I found that peoples more concerned when they have vertical cracks (I don't have) and long cracks near communications(I have and you can see on picture 7.png). Unfortunately, it's not clear to me where the line is between a problem and a problem-free crack.
What is most important isn't whether or not there ARE cracks, but both WHERE they are and most importantly: ARE THEY GROWING?
WHERE they are is important that cracks in a structural location that could compromise the structure are a problem. In a simple basement slab, this isn't an issue.
ARE THEY GROWING is what we call "are the cracks PROPOGATING?" In a basement slab, settling could be a potential issue if things weren't properly compacted prior to the pour. What I do on projects where I suspect crack propogation is to put some marks across (perpindicular to) the cracks in a few places, and making sure one of the marks is at the end of the crack. I'll come back periodically to check those marks. If the crack is now past the last mark, I know it's growing. If the other marks no longer line up with each other, then I know the two sides of the crack are sliding. That's what you need to watch for. A crack that stays in one spot and doesn't grow usually isn't a problem in a simple slab. A crack that gets longer and opens wider indicates a problem that needs to be corrected.
Those first two stud pics look like a rough stud to me, nothing to be concerned about. Sometimes you get a stud that doesn't have a smooth surface but it still OK structurally.
Bill
Thank you Bill. You really help me to build my old fashion American Dream :)
I'll use your advice to see the cracks prorogation. This advice is exactly what I search.
About where: I added pictures to show where they are.
Also 2 videos:
https://youtu.be/Kr0Uj45yu3M
https://youtu.be/ieh_IoKg1rI
It's completely new slab and I just signed my contract previous week. That time I didn't see any cracks. I was really happy that closed my contract with that previous terrible builder. New builder is much better :)
This weekend I came to see whats changed and lumbers that came(my pain from the previous builder) and found these cracks. I assume, that they finished post-tension for this slab 2-3 days ago. After a few weeks I will know are they're growing or not.
BTW I see that other slabs in this lane also got them, so it's typicality.