Sawcut control joints in formed concrete?

[hemiv]

I've got a contractor that may not have placed control joint strips in his forms for a cantilever retaining wall...

I don't believe I've had this issue before. Can joints be cut in after forms are removed in 2-3 days? I'm only familiar with slabs, and they of course get cut very soon after pour.

 

[dik]

Yes they can. If there has been a few days since the concrete has been cast, the location of the shrinkage cracks has likely been determined. Micro cracking has already occurred. You may have cracking occur between the new installed joints. You often find cracks form near sawcut joints. I've seen it often with sidewalks and driveway slabs. This is often the results of improper timing of sawcut joints.

 

[phamENG]

Yeah, it's likely too late. By the time the concrete has hardened enough to remove forms from a wall, you're well past the initial shrinkage phase and the concrete is already cracking.

 

[hemiv]

Thanks, those are my thoughts.

This is a residential project, and in my rural area these home contractors just don’t know what to do with a set of plans and specs.

 

[dik]

This is a residential project,

Concrete is concrete... it doesn't matter what the project is.

 

[phamENG]

Concrete is concrete... it doesn't matter what the project is.

But it does help to explain why this got missed. Most residential contractors don't understand concrete beyond plane concrete wall footings and slabs on grade that will be covered with finishes that don't generally care about cracks.

 

[hemiv]

I agree. The point is that it is very hard to get this pool of contractors to look at the drawings and specs, and then not cuss you down the road if they finally do.

And I find it's a crapshoot if the homeowner will notice or care. For non-life safety issues, I end up feeling like I'm talking to myself when enforcing the specs - GC doesn't care, homeowner might not care, City doesn't care...