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To: Texas Fossil
I own a home at our farm that was built in 1946-47 and there are no foundation cracks (pier and beam with hardwood floors)

It depends upon a lot of things, soil type, rebar, the actual concrete mix, the content of the water, how much water in the original mix. The best concrete is placed not poured. How it is cured is very important too.

We have one more variable in New England.

Frost heaving.

As the ground goes below freezing, usually 4 feet down, but depending on water content and rock/soil, as much as 12 feet, the moisture/water in the soil expands.

This exerts a tremendous force on basement walls, rocks, etc.

Most houses have full basements here.

If there is not sufficient rebar, and the soil is moist, the walls crack.

There are other interesting effects.

Rocks are pushed to the surface, from a half an inch to an inch or so a year.

Any road without proper drainage underneath and elevation above the ground water, gets frost heaves.

These can be REALLY exciting, up to a foot high.

32 posted on 04/23/2021 9:36:38 AM PDT by Mogger
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To: Mogger

I did know about frost heave. But did not know the details you described.

For a time I traveled to Nebraska and learned that their plumbing methods were vastly different and the it took 6 foot deep trenches to keep the damage under control.

I was in the Wholesale Hardware Distribution for almost 40 years. Called on, planned and oversaw set up of lots of lumber yards, farm stores and hardware outlets. From 1,000 sq. ft. to 100,000 sq. ft.


37 posted on 04/23/2021 12:31:45 PM PDT by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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