Here's my question...
Our new home construction is nearly complete. The full block basement was built and the floor was poured in October 2002. What kind of cracking should be considered "normal" on a four inch slab? Our basement has cracks that span the entire width of the house in several locations. You could probably put an emery board in current width of the cracks. Our contractor keeps claiming that cracking is nrmal in any foundation. What is your opinion?

If:

• The sub grade was properly prepared
  
• A 4" minimum stone base laid over the sub grade
  
• A 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier laid over the stone
  
• The proper reinforcement was used in the concrete (either wire mesh or fibers)
  
• The concrete was cured properly by keeping it moist or wet for 30 days
  
• Any required control joints were cut into the concrete within 24 hours of the pour
  

Glenn

[This message has been edited by GlennG (edited September 05, 2003).]

Thanks for your opinion. The contractor had to cut into the basement floor to put in some plumbing that he "forgot" about before he poured the floor. When the floor was exposed I was able to see poly and stone. I did not see afiber mesh, but I believe that I saw remnants of a fiber mesh within the concrete. Is it normal when a basement is poured for there to be inconsistent thicknesses in the floor? For example when the floor was cut open for the plumbing, I measured and some areas of the slab were 2", others were 2 1/2", another area in tis one room was 3" and anotehr part of the room was at a little over 4". When I put a level on the floor, it is pretty close to even.
Thanks for any other info.