Large crack hidden under shelf in garage

[noma_pride]

Bought my house a little over a month ago, and was happy to learn that the previous owner left behind two heavy duty shelves in the garage. BUT, I recently moved the one in the corner by the garage door, and found a real beauty of a crack under it.

I was able to measure the depth at the left side of the crack at 4.25". That does not sound good.

Any thoughts on a repair for this?

 

[Justanoldguy]

Yep.
Put the shelf back.

 

[Coyote Duster]

yep.
Put the shelf back.

lol.......

 

[Coyote Duster]

It's in a corner so it wount see much activity, level it out with thin-set. if your gung-ho, chisel it out until you hit sand/dirt and repour.

 

[noma_pride]

Yep.
Put the shelf back.

This was seriously my first thought.

1. Move shelf back.
2. Congratulate self on job well done.
3. Crack open a cool one.

 

[slickgt1]

This was seriously my first thought.

1. Move shelf back.
2. Congratulate self on job well done.
3. Crack open a cool one.

+1

 

[JakeKohl]

Bought my house a little over a month ago, and was happy to learn that the previous owner left behind two heavy duty shelves in the garage. BUT, I recently moved the one in the corner by the garage door, and found a real beauty of a crack under it.

I was able to measure the depth at the left side of the crack at 4.25". That does not sound good.

Any thoughts on a repair for this?

It's really not an issue unless you are worried about the cosmetics. But, as people indicated above, you can level it with some leveling cement or chisel it out and repour that corner (making sure the base is in good shape)....or, put the cabinet back and walk away like nothing happened.

 

[noma_pride]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to fill it near the top with sand, and put some self-leveling filler at the top.

Can I use regular all purpose sand, or do I need to get any special kind?

 

[rafe]

What is above that? An outside corner? It may just be cosmetic or not...If that corner of the floor is a load point you really should address the problem. Did you have an inspection before purchase? If so get them back pronto....without seeing it or getting a better description I can't say what is going on...

 

[londonsteve]

Not very helpful but I did once have a girl very similar, had a great shelf that hid a large crack!

 

[noma_pride]

What is above that? An outside corner? It may just be cosmetic or not...If that corner of the floor is a load point you really should address the problem. Did you have an inspection before purchase? If so get them back pronto....without seeing it or getting a better description I can't say what is going on...

Yes, an "outside" corner of the garage. The floating slab is cracked, but the footing upon which the studs sit is fully intact. I should have the inspector out again to take a look.

Thanks.

 

[jhelrey]

Usually damage like that is a water issue and tends to be on the outside. During rains, etc. does the water puddle up in that area?

 

[noma_pride]

I'm not sure. Just bought the house and we don't get much rain in the summer here in the Central Valley.

 

[Big_Jim]

This was seriously my first thought.

1. Move shelf back.
2. Congratulate self on job well done.
3. Crack open a cool one.

Sounds like a plan.

 

[Harix]

Fill it up! That's the source of termite.

 

[rafe]

If your footing is sound you should be OK. I was not sure about your 4.25 inch thought it may have sunk that far. Again I'd put it on the inspector he was supposed to find that, if it was a problem and he should be more than happy to take a look for you.
Most likely you can just grout it or pump some epoxy into it if it is stable...maybe you had a quake?lol

 

[Justanoldguy]

rafe. The photo sure doesn't look like it sunk 4.25 inches ... lol

 

[noma_pride]

...maybe you had a quake?lol

That is a definite possibility. The house was built in '87 and Loma Prieta was in '89...

rafe. The photo sure doesn't look like it sunk 4.25 inches ... lol

The 4.25" was the depth inside the crack at its largest width.

 

[eborcim]

In CA? Surprised you have not found more cracks. Put some kind of paste or caulking sealer in there and put the cabinet back.

 

[zporta]

if the footing failed there would be a crack in the block that is exposed. The dirt settled and the slab wasnt pinned so it sank and cracked

 

[rafe]

rafe. The photo sure doesn't look like it sunk 4.25 inches ... lol

Naw It doesn't, just meant that with out seeing it. (all of it ) it's hard to tell what is going on. Hey speaking of a Large crack hidden under shelf in garage
That is one hell of a fine Lincoln you are building.

 

[Justanoldguy]

Thanks for that.
Been waiting years to find the right car.
Not to hiJack the thread but what the heck.
Check this out.

 

[Roots]

What is above that? An outside corner? It may just be cosmetic or not...If that corner of the floor is a load point you really should address the problem. Did you have an inspection before purchase? If so get them back pronto....without seeing it or getting a better description I can't say what is going on...

Inspectors are generally not allowed to move items to get better views or investigate further. Unscrupulous realtors know this and are therefore, well, able to find better places for shelves. Sorry, it's for better Feng Shui.

 

[bczygan]

I would Photoshop that picture too.

There...all fixed!

 

[noma_pride]

I would Photoshop that picture too.

There...all fixed!

Thanks for the quick repair job.

I filled in the crack yesterday with 30 mesh sand--I was amazed at how much sand found its way down there. I'll seal it with waterproof, self-leveling caulk and put that shelf back.

Thanks for all the advice, and of course the humor.

 

[Edger]

There was fresh air beneath that corner at one time, I think finding out why is more important than the cracked slab.

Love the "girl like that" comment.

 

[noma_pride]

There was fresh air beneath that corner at one time, I think finding out why is more important than the cracked slab.

I'm starting to think that too. This morning I check the crack after filling with sand yesterday, and the sand was wet. I definitely didn't rain last night, but there are two sprinklers on the other side of the wall on the right of the picture--I'll be somehow water is flowing from them under the garage floor there.

Damn.

 

[trbomax]

Not very helpful but I did once have a girl very similar, had a great shelf that hid a large crack!

So what did you fill it with?

 

[ZRX61]

So what did you fill it with?

Baby spackle

 

[noma_pride]

So what did you fill it with?

Caulk.

Too easy.

 

[bczygan]

I would dig along the outside of the wall on both sides of the corner to see if the slab had been undermined causing it to crack from loads from the wall, either when built or later. Fix would be to fill and compact concrete material into the space under the slab, waterproof the face of the walls to a higher point and add soil to provide positive drainage away from the wall. Then inside, I would fill the crack (After cleaning it out) with hydraulic cement.