Cracks detected in basement concrete exterior wall, how to proceed?

Hello HeiniohnePlan

to calm your nerves: (I am neither an expert nor a structural engineer, but I have already built 3 houses) the botch can only be fixed by dismantling the wall again.
But, and this is realistic - I would chip off the loose concrete, protect the iron against corrosion, formwork the ceiling and pour the concrete (preferably with lots of plasticizer). It will enclose the wall and eradicate the botch forever and ever.

Steven

Hello HeiniohnePlan

to calm your nerves: (I am neither an expert nor a structural engineer, but I have already built 3 houses) the only way to fix the botched work is to dismantle the wall again.
But, and this is realistic - I would chip away the loose concrete, protect the steel against corrosion, form the ceiling, and pour the concrete (preferably with plenty of plasticizer). It will enclose the wall and eradicate the botched work forever.

Steven

That's exactly how it is. Only if the OP hadn't seen it, nothing would have been done.

In both cases, a structural engineer is not required. The house will not collapse because of this, with 100% certainty.

The general contractor would have accepted the work without defects.

But now, at such an early stage, the atmosphere towards the GC is poisoned. Good luck with the further construction.

Having the site inspected without a site manager was simply a no-go.

You can see the result in the last response from the GC.

I would have inspected the site and, if there was a defect, arranged an appointment with the site manager for a walk-through and then politely asked what was to be done about the accidentally discovered cracks.

I cannot assess construction details, but even if contractually regulated, the fact of being locked out of one's own construction would give me serious concerns...

Not nice, but also nothing unusual. The OP has read and signed it themselves, because that is what is stated in the contract.

I cannot judge construction details, but even if contractually regulated, the fact of being locked out from my own construction site would cause me serious concern...

I see it the same way, but it is a tricky matter since it was apparently contractually agreed upon. I would already be skeptical of such a clause in the contract: What motivates a general contractor not to want me on the construction site? According to his emails, it seems to be about the risk of accidents. In any case, with each repeated entry onto the construction site, the client is technically violating the contract here, legally making himself vulnerable if he also admits to having done so in emails (such as the notice of defects)? I would also recommend the approach suggested here: if the client sees something on the construction site, then arrange an appointment with the site management and ideally photograph it in their presence.

OYEAH!
Thanks to you for your really helpful contributions
You are gods!

1. The picture in the defect report was taken from outside through the construction fence.

2. That is a good approach with seeing things randomly at the agreed appointment. That’s how I will do it.
But of course I will drive past the construction site after work. It’s not about control for me. It’s about positive vibes. I want to watch my house during the construction training.

3. The notary (brother of a good friend, now a no-go) said back then about the house rights paragraph that "the general contractor must also be allowed to come to the construction site and not have to ask us every single time." That the other way around I’m not allowed on my own property I didn’t get. I’m just stupid. I think I will write that to him.
QUESTION: Can you take action against the notary? Sure notaries are gods, but is there really realistically nothing you can do?

4. My wife called the site manager yesterday after we hadn’t heard anything from the GC and the site manager about the defect report. After more than a week!
He was friendly on the phone and said that he was also angry that the workers didn’t cover the wall with the cracks before Christmas.
We now have an appointment next Thursday with an expert and the site manager.

5. I will probably play the fool there and suggest exactly what you wrote:
“I would chip off the loose concrete, protect the rebar against corrosion, form the ceiling and pour the concrete (preferably with plenty of plasticizer).”
Here are 2 QUESTIONS about this:
5.1 Does the rust really have to be removed after such a short time? A bit of iron oxide apparently is good?
5.2 “With plenty of plasticizer”: should the whole ceiling then be poured with plenty of plasticizer or only the areas where the concrete is chipped off?

QUESTION:
6. After fixing the defects, would you pay the full rate for the side walls and the ceiling above the basement to the general contractor or how do you proceed?

7. Stay healthy champs I need you!

3. The notary (brother of a good friend, now a no-go) said back then about the house law paragraph that the "general contractor must also be able to come to the construction site and not have to ask us every time." That I, on the other hand, am not allowed on my property, I did not get. I'm just stupid. I think I will write that to him.
QUESTION: Can action be taken against the notary? Sure, notaries are gods, but realistically is there really nothing that can be done?

Was the notary also involved in the contract with the construction company here? Or did you also buy the plot of land from them?
I am a bit confused, our notary only handled the purchase of the property.
Neither with the notary handling the property transaction nor with our building contract (without a notary) do we have any house law paragraphs that regulate who may enter the property and when. Therefore, I am puzzled about the coordination here and how the notary is involved in it.
Actually, the notary should be impartial and objective. So if he had you sign this paragraph, I would expect a good notary to point out the consequences. However, whether he makes himself legally vulnerable by not doing so, I cannot answer.