Small brick cracks

[Kilim]

Hi,

I've recently bought a house in Melbourne western suburbs (P.Cook). It is just 1 year old. There are two things which worry me a little bit.

1. I've got concrete pathway along the front side of the house, approx. 1m wide. And it looks like it has negative slope near the porch - there will be 2-3 puddles on the pathway near the brick wall after each rain. It dryies out quickly, but I still do not like that water stays in such proximity to brick wall.

2. Recently I've noticed couple of small vertical cracks in corner bricks. Cracks in 2 bricks are really small, I'd say hairline cracks. But in the bottom brick crack is quite noticable.
Crack is wide at the bottom of the brick, which means that corner is rising (correct me if my assumption is wrong).

The problem is (at least what I can think of) that originally slab's corner was chopped off (approx. 1.5-2cm at the angle of 30-45 degrees) and corner brick overhanged over the slab corner. Building inspector told me that it's not a problem and if I'm planning to do cement pathways around the house, cement will pour into that cavity and will support those 2cm of brick.

Now I'm thinking - can it be termal shrinkage/expansion? That cement's expansion pushing bricks up and causing cracks. I've found those cracks after hot summer days, it was all normal during the winter and spring.

I also can't check that concreter put expansion joints. Pathway seems to be butted tightly against slab and brick wall. Is there is a way to check it (apart from asking concreter)?

I'd appreciate any comments or pieces of advice.

Thanks,
Con

[Kilim]

And here is the photo...

[Planned LScape]

All of western Melbourne is highly reactive volcanic clay, so it will shrink and swell during dry and wet periods. Being mostly dry I would say the former. The speed at which builders knock up houses so soon after laying the slab I'm surprised this doesnt happen more.

If the path is enclosed in at both sides, it would need expansion joint with foam against the house or wall, to allow for concrete expansion. If there isn't, something there will crack. You should be able to see it at the sides, as it should be exposed the full thickness of the concrete.

[Planned LScape]

The pic you put above almost looks to me like because there is no expansion joint inbetween the house and the path, things are cracking due to pressure.

Imagine putting in a brick into a bit of paving, and it expanded, either it or the bricks next to it would eventually crack. It looks more stress related than the slab moving, but an expert would be able to tell for sure. They would also be able to tell if it would get any worse too

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I also can't check that concreter put expansion joints. Pathway seems to be butted tightly against slab and brick wall. Is there is a way to check it (apart from asking concreter)?

To check for expansion joints, just look.

If you can't see one, it's either not there or has been covered over. (which defeats it's purpose.)

[Kilim]

The pic you put above almost looks to me like because there is no expansion joint inbetween the house and the path, things are cracking due to pressure.

Imagine putting in a brick into a bit of paving, and it expanded, either it or the bricks next to it would eventually crack. It looks more stress related than the slab moving, but an expert would be able to tell for sure. They would also be able to tell if it would get any worse too

I will check this tomorrow... But what if there are no expansion joints?
Should I remove existing pathway and put new one, but with expansion joints? What's the best way to fix it?

[Kilim]

To check for expansion joints, just look.

I did... but found nothing

If you can't see one, it's either not there or has been covered over. (which defeats it's purpose.)

Well... you are killing my last hope. Most likely it's not there...

[Planned LScape]

I will check this tomorrow... But what if there are no expansion joints?
Should I remove existing pathway and put new one, but with expansion joints? What's the best way to fix it?

As above, if you can't see them most likely the concretor has done a quick job and just screeded the conc from wall to wall and finished it off. I doubt whether a concrete cutter could cut a clean line down where it joins to the house and you could install an expansion joint, but as always ask for an expert opinion to see on site. Preferably someone recommended, not the concretor that did it!

[Kilim]

As above, if you can't see them most likely the concretor has done a quick job and just screeded the conc from wall to wall and finished it off. I doubt whether a concrete cutter could cut a clean line down where it joins to the house and you could install an expansion joint, but as always ask for an expert opinion to see on site. Preferably someone recommended, not the concretor that did it!

O-oh, yeah... that's definitely will be someone else.
Can you recommend anyone?

[Planned LScape]

Not really down your way, there are a heap down that way now, hard to find the good ones and the good old blokes are starting to retire!

I would recommend asking the guys at All Green nursery at Old Geelong Rd Hoppers Crossing though, or Werribee Sand & Soil, they should have a fair idea of good guys to use.

[Kilim]

Not really down your way, there are a heap down that way now, hard to find the good ones and the good old blokes are starting to retire!

I would recommend asking the guys at All Green nursery at Old Geelong Rd Hoppers Crossing though, or Werribee Sand & Soil, they should have a fair idea of good guys to use.

That guy was recommended by one of our neighbours and at Werribee Sand & Soil.
Anyway, thank you for your advice. Will search for someone else.


P.S.
I've got opinion from some other concreter doing driveway on our street. He said that that he normally does not put expansions joint between slab and pathway if there is no boundary on the other side... i.e. if pathway is not butted tightly against other structures.

[DvdHntr]

That is a definate case of brick growth.

[wdyte_dan]

I would seriously consider having a beer and not worry about a hairline crack.

If it gets past 5mm consider spending money on it, but your wall won't fall down because of the cracks. Almost every house across melbourne on raised footings has some degree of cracking due to do rapid drying and wetting leading to expansion and retraction. Probably not worth getting someone in just yet in my opinion.

[Brickie]

Most bricks come pre-cracked in the packs, the brick makers tell me they dont, but what would I know.
Pick up any brick on a building site and look inside the holes of the brick.

Your type of bricks are brittle so and settling of the ground will make them crack, the path is restricting the ability of the bricks to move.

[brickman]

Apparently concrete can never expand due to thermal movement a greater area than that when placed when wet eg. when the water evaporates as it dries it shrinks back in area and never expands greater than that , seeing as your house is only 1 year old it is still going through a settlement period and it will still be doing so for a while . Ideally there should have been either plastic or abeflex placed between the bricks and path as a bond breaker but if you do this u also end up with weed growth at this point . I would agree to just document and date the crack by taking a picture of a ruler next to the brick for scale and doing nothing just yet . cheers