Poured my Garage and Basement Concrete question

[camnick]

They just poured the concrete for my basement and garage. The basement floor started showing hairline cracks everywhere within a hour after they were done. The wife was not happy. They said the mix was a little hot. Will this affect the strength of the concrete? I'm going to go check the garage this morning for cracks.

 

[camnick]

pics

 

[rieferman]

The first hairline crack in my garage appeared a couple months after the pour and it nearly broke my heart. Since then, some pros that I trust have told me that very small cracks in concrete are somewhat inevitible and that in my case there's nothing serious happening.

As to whether those cracks should happen so quickly as they did in your case, I'll leave for the pros on this board. There's a number of knowledgeable concrete guys here that will give you a good answer.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Okay experts. What can be done to prevent hairline cracks, especially when you plan on staining/finishing a concrete floor for use as the main floor in a new home ? Saw cuts after a couple (?) of days, but I don't think they would stop hairline cracks.

Wire mesh ? Fibers ? Different mix ? (50 years ago, my Dad watered the slab for our new garage once or twice a day for a week to "prevent cracks")

 

[pcmeiners]

Sounds like a heat factor...
Mesh will not stop it, fiber would help but only for the initial set. Plastic barrier directly below concrete adds to the problem.


http://www.concrete.org/General/f302.1(04)Chap3.pdf

At his point keep it wet 24 hr/day with a misting hose,

 

[AlphaGarage]

The saying is "there are concrete floors that have cracks, and others that will."

 

[camnick]

I feel a lot better. I checked the garage and I only found one hairline crack. I looks like the cracks in the basement are on the surface only. Is that possible?

 

[thegarageguy]

One thing is for sure....concrete cracks........and no one will ever steal it!

 

[red]

http://www.concrete.org/General/f302.1(04)Chap3.pdf

At his point keep it wet 24 hr/day with a misting hose,[/QUOTE]

+1 probably the most important thing you can do to improve the strength and durability of your new concrete. Keep it wet!

 

[camnick]

It rained on the concrete this weekend. There is about an inch of water on it right now in the basement. At what point do you know it's cured fully?

 

[tncatadjuster]

At what point do you know it's cured fully?

If standard mix 28 days to infinity.

 

[Justanoldguy]

Yep.
Closer to infinity actually .. lol