Foundation - Should I be worried? (Austin, Leander: new house, neighborhood, tile)

[PittsburghAustin]

Moved into a new house in Leander two months ago. Three days ago noticed a crack in the tile floor. Crack starts with a grout line at the exterior wall and has cracked the grout line on one tile and cracked two in half. Outside the same crack runs from ground level up to the floor line. Today found a second crack coming from the outside and has cracked two tiles in half. Same as the other one outside, the coating they put over the rough foundation slab is cracked ground to inside floor line. Both on the same side and about 10 feet apart.
Not real familiar with slab foundation, so should I worry?

[RoadWarrior12]

I sure as hell would have that checked out fast. It could be something as simple as a light mix on the skin coat, but could be much worse.

[PittsburghAustin]

Thanks, builder says they will only fix cracked tile once under warranty, so I am a bit worried getting anything done too quickly.

[RoadWarrior12]

Originally Posted by PittsburghAustin

Thanks, builder says they will only fix cracked tile once under warranty, so I am a bit worried getting anything done too quickly.

They'll all say that until you make enough stink. Nothing will submarine a subdivision faster than foundation problems. If they're still building there, you'll be able to get it done multiple times if needed.

[TexasHorseLady]

Have a foundation company come out and take a look. The good ones will do it free of charge.

Did you have inspections done while the house was being built, at slab and framing and before closing?

[PittsburghAustin]

After, slab was within specs for level. But was covered by flooring before the inspector made it out.

[austin-steve]

New homes expand and contract a lot more than older homes. Floor tile and sheetrock cracks are not uncommon, and will be covered by warranty first year for cosmetic issues, and longer for structural issues. But what you describe sounds a bit more than the norm.

I would start documenting everything, communicate only in writing (or document phone or in person conversations immediately afterward), and follow the process set forth for reporting/requesting warranty work.

Steve

[Roadking2003]

A concrete guy once told me there are two inevitable things about concrete; 1) it turns gray and 2) it cracks. Cosmetic concrete cracks are normal.

[eileenkeeney]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Have a foundation company come out and take a look. The good ones will do it free of charge.

Did you have inspections done while the house was being built, at slab and framing and before closing?

Will it be the "Good Ones" that do it free of charge, or those most likely to find issues and recommend that they fix the issues.

Can you recommend a good company?

I am sure my foundation is not under warranty, the house is not that new.
But after living here for a few years, I am starting to see where the previous owners did a lot of cover up work to hide cracks in the walls.
As they crack again, I can see where the tape was applied, and previous cracks filled in.

I think bad foundations is common in my neighborhood. This may be one reason that home values have not gone up, in the little pocket I live in.

[PittsburghAustin]

My problem is, I am under a warranty and have only lived here for two months, so no independent company is going to come out because they know the builder will use their company.
Builder does not seem worried, but both cracks have gotten longer with the cold weather last night. One followed a grout line and the other one split another tile in half.