Patent ID: 7069703

Claim:
A method of constructing a large continuous concrete slab, the method comprising the steps of: extending a grid of crack inducers over a prepared ground surface, wherein the crack inducers extend in at least two different directions relative to one another over a length and breadth of the prepared ground surface and are spaced about 800 mm to 3000 mm from one another; pouring concrete onto the prepared ground surface to completely cover the crack inducers; and allowing the concrete to set to form a slab, wherein the crack inducers of the grid are of a size, shape and spacing so as to relieve the build up of tensile stresses within the slab by inducing formation of fine cracks that generally extend between an upper surface of each crack inducer and a top surface of the slab, wherein the top surface of the slab is continuous, wherein the fine cracks are generally less than about 0.5 mm in width, and wherein installation of shrinkage control joints through the top surface is not required to prevent uncontrolled cracking.