Are concrete slab cracks normal?

ANSWER: Every concrete slab has cracks. And because concrete is not an elastic material, cracks are inevitable and rarely a cause for concern. Unless the cracks in your floor are an eighth of an inch or wider, they are probably the result of normal stress, as the carpet layer said.Click to see full answer. Furthermore, how much concrete cracking is acceptable?In our CFA Standard, we specifically call out that the maximum allowable crack for a foundation wall width is 1/8 inch because water and dampproofing can easily span that width. Exterior Slabs: Average concrete shrinks about 0.06%, so unless there are control joints, cracking is inevitable.Additionally, what happens if a slab foundation cracks? Settlement cracks in a slab indicate inadequate site preparation, such as failure to compact fill on which a slab was poured. Frost heaves or expansive soil damage can cause substantial damage to basement, crawl space, or garage floor slabs in some conditions. Beside above, why has my concrete slab cracked? Probably the single most common reason for early cracks in concrete is plastic shrinkage. When the concrete is still in its plastic state (before hardening), it is full of water. When the stress becomes too great for the now hardened concrete, the slab will crack in order to relieve tension.How do I keep my concrete slab from cracking?To avoid plastic shrinkage, the key is to keep the concrete surface moist by covering it with burlap, polyethylene sheeting or plastic. This is especially important in extreme weather conditions such as high wind, hot temperatures or direct sunlight.