Why You Should Not Tell an Owner That “All Concrete Cracks”

“All concrete cracks” is a favorite saying of engineers and contractors attempting to explain cracks in concrete work that they often cannot otherwise justify. However, it is often perceived as just an excuse for failing to provide a well-reasoned opinion regarding the likely cause(s) of the cracks and the negative ramifications, if any, associated with their presence. It is true that owners often expect unachievable results in their concrete structures when it comes to cracks. This paper will discuss the need to manage the expectations regarding concrete cracks on a project and how to properly address it when it inevitably occurs. Concrete structures almost always have cracks, and the project team needs to be made aware of this fact prior to construction. This can better help align the team’s perceptions of acceptable and unacceptable cracks with those shared by the Structural Engineer.