Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Mar 19, 2023 8:57 am Hi I just found my granny flat got three hairline cracks in one side of the wall. So I wonder if this is alarming and reason for cracks? The granny flat was built in 2020 and the slab is concrete. one Side of the wall (where cracks are ) are standing on the edge of backfill. So last year the backfill actually condensed a bit and the pavings went down about 100---150mm. So we have unpaved the bricks and put more soil on top. And we havent put pavers back yet. Currently there are thee hairline cracks on the same wall. I have checked the slab underneath, and there is no crack on concrete slab yet ( at lease I didnt see any), nor can be seen from inside of the granny flat wall. It would surprise me to see that render would crack in only three years? However this side does face sun a lot during the day. Would anyone have any clues? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ w Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 2Mar 19, 2023 10:00 am Unfortunately the problem will be on going With the slightest slab defections-> movements, expect the panel joins and glue to crack. OT Check your contour, soil report and engineering, if the cracking aligns with deficient site works and engineering you might have a negligence case against the builder. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 3Mar 19, 2023 11:24 am ![]() Unfortunately the problem will be on going With the slightest slab defections-> movements, expect the panel joins and glue to crack. OT Check your contour, soil report and engineering, if the cracking aligns with deficient site works and engineering you might have a negligence case against the builder. Hi Mate thank you for your reply. So do you believe this is slab issue? And what can peopel do to fix it? Kind regards, Ethan Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 4Mar 20, 2023 6:04 am ![]() Hi I just found my granny flat got three hairline cracks in one side of the wall. So I wonder if this is alarming and reason for cracks? The granny flat was built in 2020 and the slab is concrete. one Side of the wall (where cracks are ) are standing on the edge of backfill. So last year the backfill actually condensed a bit and the pavings went down about 100---150mm. So we have unpaved the bricks and put more soil on top. And we havent put pavers back yet. Currently there are thee hairline cracks on the same wall. I have checked the slab underneath, and there is no crack on concrete slab yet ( at lease I didnt see any), nor can be seen from inside of the granny flat wall. It would surprise me to see that render would crack in only three years? However this side does face sun a lot during the day. Would anyone have any clues? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ w Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ethan CSR recommends control joints every 6m, from the photos ( admittedly I have bad eyesight so I could be missing them) but I can't seem to see any. As with bricks Hebel needs to be able to expand and contract as it heats and cools, so if your builder has missed the control joints this could explain why you are getting the cracks. Take a closer look at the walls and see if you can see any. Cheers Simeon Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 5Mar 20, 2023 6:06 am ![]() Hi I just found my granny flat got three hairline cracks in one side of the wall. So I wonder if this is alarming and reason for cracks? The granny flat was built in 2020 and the slab is concrete. one Side of the wall (where cracks are ) are standing on the edge of backfill. So last year the backfill actually condensed a bit and the pavings went down about 100---150mm. So we have unpaved the bricks and put more soil on top. And we havent put pavers back yet. Currently there are thee hairline cracks on the same wall. I have checked the slab underneath, and there is no crack on concrete slab yet ( at lease I didnt see any), nor can be seen from inside of the granny flat wall. It would surprise me to see that render would crack in only three years? However this side does face sun a lot during the day. Would anyone have any clues? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ w Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ethan CSR recommends control joints every 6m, from the photos ( admittedly I have bad eyesight so I could be missing them) but I can't seem to see any. There might be one in the bottom corner of that first photo near the tap. As with bricks Hebel needs to be able to expand and contract as it heats and cools, so if your builder has missed the control joints this could explain why you are getting the cracks. Take a closer look at the walls and see if you can see any and check that they are 6m apart. If that doesn't explain it I can PM you a contact at CSR and you can ask him. Cheers Simeon Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 6Mar 20, 2023 8:04 am ![]() ![]() Hi I just found my granny flat got three hairline cracks in one side of the wall. So I wonder if this is alarming and reason for cracks? The granny flat was built in 2020 and the slab is concrete. one Side of the wall (where cracks are ) are standing on the edge of backfill. So last year the backfill actually condensed a bit and the pavings went down about 100---150mm. So we have unpaved the bricks and put more soil on top. And we havent put pavers back yet. Currently there are thee hairline cracks on the same wall. I have checked the slab underneath, and there is no crack on concrete slab yet ( at lease I didnt see any), nor can be seen from inside of the granny flat wall. It would surprise me to see that render would crack in only three years? However this side does face sun a lot during the day. Would anyone have any clues? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ w Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ethan CSR recommends control joints every 6m, from the photos ( admittedly I have bad eyesight so I could be missing them) but I can't seem to see any. There might be one in the bottom corner of that first photo near the tap. As with bricks Hebel needs to be able to expand and contract as it heats and cools, so if your builder has missed the control joints this could explain why you are getting the cracks. Take a closer look at the walls and see if you can see any and check that they are 6m apart. If that doesn't explain it I can PM you a contact at CSR and you can ask him. Cheers Simeon Hi Simeon, Do you have any pics for control joints? I mean between hebels. DO you mean this? Thanks, Ethan Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 7Mar 20, 2023 8:08 am ![]() ![]() ![]() Hi I just found my granny flat got three hairline cracks in one side of the wall. So I wonder if this is alarming and reason for cracks? The granny flat was built in 2020 and the slab is concrete. one Side of the wall (where cracks are ) are standing on the edge of backfill. So last year the backfill actually condensed a bit and the pavings went down about 100---150mm. So we have unpaved the bricks and put more soil on top. And we havent put pavers back yet. Currently there are thee hairline cracks on the same wall. I have checked the slab underneath, and there is no crack on concrete slab yet ( at lease I didnt see any), nor can be seen from inside of the granny flat wall. It would surprise me to see that render would crack in only three years? However this side does face sun a lot during the day. Would anyone have any clues? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ w Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ethan CSR recommends control joints every 6m, from the photos ( admittedly I have bad eyesight so I could be missing them) but I can't seem to see any. There might be one in the bottom corner of that first photo near the tap. As with bricks Hebel needs to be able to expand and contract as it heats and cools, so if your builder has missed the control joints this could explain why you are getting the cracks. Take a closer look at the walls and see if you can see any and check that they are 6m apart. If that doesn't explain it I can PM you a contact at CSR and you can ask him. Cheers Simeon Hi Simeon, Do you have any pics for control joints? I mean between hebels. DO you mean this? Thanks, Ethan Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ethan That looks like a control joint Cheers Simeon Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 8Mar 20, 2023 8:59 am ![]() ![]() Unfortunately the problem will be on going With the slightest slab defections-> movements, expect the panel joins and glue to crack. OT Check your contour, soil report and engineering, if the cracking aligns with deficient site works and engineering you might have a negligence case against the builder. Hi Mate thank you for your reply. So do you believe this is slab issue? And what can peopel do to fix it? Kind regards, Ethan All you have provided so far is photos of cracked walls and that the soils has consolidated 100-150mm adjacent to the walls You will need to petition the council building surveyors for all the documentation. Make sure you get copies of the certified engineering fill and compaction certificates, bearing capacity, pile details,etc,etc? Pity you didn't have all that info, data and proofs before you selected 3 builders to quote. Worse case is you paid too much for rubbish fill, no compaction, insufficient engineering, etc,etc Now it's a case of forensic engineering and elimination. The fix will depend on the engineering report. Just remember the better the post the better the reply + it helps other Cheers Chris Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 9Mar 20, 2023 9:56 am ![]() ![]() ![]() Unfortunately the problem will be on going With the slightest slab defections-> movements, expect the panel joins and glue to crack. OT Check your contour, soil report and engineering, if the cracking aligns with deficient site works and engineering you might have a negligence case against the builder. Hi Mate thank you for your reply. So do you believe this is slab issue? And what can peopel do to fix it? Kind regards, Ethan All you have provided so far is photos of cracked walls and that the soils has consolidated 100-150mm adjacent to the walls You will need to petition the council building surveyors for all the documentation. Make sure you get copies of the certified engineering fill and compaction certificates, bearing capacity, pile details,etc,etc? Pity you didn't have all that info, data and proofs before you selected 3 builders to quote. Worse case is you paid too much for rubbish fill, no compaction, insufficient engineering, etc,etc Now it's a case of forensic engineering and elimination. The fix will depend on the engineering report. Just remember the better the post the better the reply + it helps other Cheers Chris HI Chris: I do have engineering report but they didnt check the backfill. The builder did not compact the backfill. kind regards, Ethan Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 10Mar 21, 2023 10:12 am ![]() I do have engineering report but they didnt check the backfill. The builder did not compact the backfill. Of course not, the builder has to request and pay the engineer for that service. Then it needs to be included in the contract documents That's why clients should focus less on Fake coloured renderings at the initial signup stage, more on the build/engineering and what can go wrong with their build Forewarned is forearmed Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 11Mar 21, 2023 6:04 pm Your articulation joints have been rendered over so they will not work. Any movement will not be absorbed by your articulation joints and will be reflected in your brickwork. Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 12Mar 21, 2023 6:45 pm ![]() Your articulation joints have been rendered over so they will not work. Any movement will not be absorbed by your articulation joints and will be reflected in your brickwork. Looks more like a silicon to me rather than render? Also, I think we are talking about Hebel here, not brickwork? Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 13Mar 21, 2023 10:08 pm The cracking is from insufficient glue in joint and incorrect render system You are not alone with these Hebel Powerpanel builds. Would estimate about 95% of builds have cracking like this. This is detailed in the CsR manuals and the requirements of the render coating. To fix, need to grind render off at crack locations, patch/treat crack. Then re-texture full length of wall. Most likely don’t have correct colour on granny flat, can see where been repaired at articulation joints (colour discrepancy). Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 14Mar 22, 2023 9:21 am How does render coatings stop cracking? If this is correct you might be re-writing the entire masonry structural codes (humour) Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 16Mar 22, 2023 7:56 pm Here I am recommending, certifying and reinforcing mortar beds with 2 x 6mm galv rods to reduce wall cracking ? While you've proposed another solution Enjoy the humour Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 18Mar 22, 2023 10:26 pm The take home message is prevention, there is no bandage cure...get it Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Hebel wall hairline cracks on new house built 2020..why? 20Mar 23, 2023 12:09 pm ![]() Yes These are hairline cracks, less than a mm, the render systems where changed a decade or so ago Is this structural crack? can't be as Hebel itself is not structural Do I need to concern about this pattern of crack? Is this crack showing some signs of bigger problems? Thanks for any suggestions! 1 3001 I carefully examined the ceiling of the room beneath the balcony and did not see any obvious signs of water… 6 2363 Would also like an opinion from anyone that has used xcem over hebel for floors. Thanks 1 17372 |