Garage Cracks along edges/corner

[usmckk]

Hey all,

I happened across this place after a Google search on an issue I am having with a new house I just bought. I was hoping I could get some input as to whether I have a big problem on my hand or not since from other threads I've seen you guys know your stuff. Basically, I was looking to epoxy coat my garage floor but upon a look around my garage I started to become aware of cracks along the perimeter edges of the garage. I also noticed what appears to be moisture in these cracks. I even came upon a little gecko that crawls under the garage floor in one of the cracks.

Here are some photos:

This last one is a bit confusing to me since it's the back end of the garage attached to the house and shouldn't have any moisture.

The house is 9 years old, on concrete slab, and there are 18 inch roof overhangs but no gutters (this is the norm in my neighborhood in Eastern NC, apparently). I am a bit concerned rainwater is working its way back to the slab and causing issues. Not only is this worrying for my garage, but maybe the house in general as well? Am I looking into this too much? Maybe the garage slab is just settling and all I need to do is seal it? Any input would help. I just had a house inspection a few weeks and nothing was mentioned...hoping it's not an issue.

 

[Fixnfly]

I think gutters would help the moisture problem. It's odd the home inspector did not mention anything about the cracks. He must have been as blind as the guy who inspected my house.

 

[Notgrownup]

Looks like drainage needs to be addressed, around here the water table is so high them slab houses are mot what I would pick....that is why I went 2 rows of blocks on my shop...

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

The perimeter crack is common as the the wall and the slab are not one.
Regarding moisture....
Do you have a sprinkler system that hits the house?
This is a common issue in FL and you mentioned our state bird, the gecko.

 

[SchifoneTile]

There are hydrophobic polyurethane injection kits, as well as urethane and polyuria solutions that can be applied to or in the crack to stop the movement of water through the hairline cracks. That area is commonly referred to as a coveseam and can be problematic if not fixed. Consider repairing the area first, or stop the water at the source. Failing to do so could cause a coating to peel up around the perimeter of the garage.

 

[Sheriff245]

I wouldn't worry about the cracks around the slab. You can seal them before putting a coating on it, or leave them alone.

As for the cracks on the wall, if I understood correctly, that's the wall separating the house and garage? If so, I would try to cut up an observation hole in the drywall from the other side to make sure everything's fine in there, but judging by the shape of the cracks, it could be a problem with the concrete mix itself. Did you notice similar cracks elsewhere around the house?