SBC experts: Cracks??

[Erin]

So we're surface bonding the basement walls and have filled about every sixth core, for extra strength.

However, something that we've noticed is that the walls keep developing cracks, running along the lines of the blocks.  (Much like any other block foundation, where there are cracks that run along the mortar lines.  But this is SBC so, the cracks are through the connections. 

What is it we're missing???

[n74tg]

I surface bonded my crawlspace walls (inside and out) and the only place anything cracked was where I had a cold joint
in my concrete footers.  In my housebuilding blog, address below, read the archives starting in May 2007 for the stuff about surface bonding, pics included.

So, here are a couple of questions to maybe help identify the cause of your problem.

How thick did you apply the SBC?  Mine is on average 1/8" thick.

Is it applied both inside and outside?

Was it applied during really hot weather?

Did you wet the walls periodically after application to lengthen the curing phase?

What type of foundation is your block wall built on?  

Do you have any cold joints in between concrete pours in the foundation?  

[Erin]

How thick did you apply the SBC?  Mine is on average 1/8" thick.

On the inside it's about 1/8" thick, though we've patched a couple of cracks that are now thicker than that...

Is it applied both inside and outside?

Yep

Was it applied during really hot weather?

Both.  We have some that cracked that was hot weather.  We have some that cracked that was cool...

Did you wet the walls periodically after application to lengthen the curing phase?

Yep.

What type of foundation is your block wall built on?

The footers.  This IS the foundation wall.

Do you have any cold joints in between concrete pours in the foundation? 

nope.

[n74tg]

Hummm, seems like you did it correctly. Let's see what others come up with.