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BASEMENT FOUNDATION CRACK REPAIR

Basement cracks are common in almost every household. It just makes your basement gloomy and depressing. These cracks are responsible for letting water into your basement. As a result, specific moisture problems can arise in your basement. These problems decrease the value of your house and impose health threats on you and your family members. 

What Are Basement Foundation Cracks?

Basement cracks are the cracks present on the floor or the walls of your basement. These cracks are the prime reason for all the moisture problems residing in your basement. Water seeps in through these cracks and makes your basement prone to mould, dampness, or mildew. There are several types of basement foundation cracks.

Types of Basement Foundation Cracks

  • Structural foundation crack – These types of cracks pose a severe risk to your home’s structural integrity. The main reasons behind these cracks are soil shrinkage., soil pressure, temperature changes, movements, etc.
  • Wet non-structural foundation crack – When water evaporates from the concrete, shrinkage takes place in the foundation. It leads to the formation of these cracks.
  • Non-structural foundation crack – These cracks don’t pose a threat to your home’s structural integrity, but it is responsible for allowing water to seep into your basement. 
  • Foundation slab cracks – Frost heave, slab settlement, and concrete curing are some of the reasons that are responsible for causing foundation slab cracks.
  • Shrinkage crack – When the poured concrete walls start drying out and start losing moisture, shrinkage cracks appear. 
  • Diagonal cracks – These foundation cracks arise due to the overtime concrete settlement or the natural process of concrete curing.
  • Vertical cracks – The process of natural concrete curing or foundation settling are the main reasons for causing these cracks.
  • Hairline cracks – These cracks arise within a few months of the construction of your home. These cracks occur due to the drying and settling of the new foundation.
  • Stair step cracks – These cracks form either due to the moisture problems present outside the foundation or due to the foundation sinking or settlement in one area.
  • Horizontal cracks – These types of cracks are formed often because of the hydrostatic pressure that presses against your wall. These might also arise because of the unbalanced soil.

Causes of Basement Foundation Cracks

The three primary causes of basement foundation wall cracks are:

  • Movement – Among all the other causes, this one is the most common. When there is a movement or shift in the ground present around your foundation, it leads to cracks. These cracks increase and in number and worsen with the continuation of the movements.
  • Settling – This can be problematic only in the initial days after the building of your house. It happens when the ground present under your house’s foundation wants to compress. In minor compressions, the cracks are tiny as well, but if the compressions last long, then the cracks can widen and worsen.
  • Shrinkage – After completion of your house’s construction, the foundation might dry quickly and shrink. It causes hairline cracks. 

Why Is It Important to Repair Basement Foundation Cracks?

If there are cracks in your basement’s foundation, it will allow the water inside your basement. As a result, your basement will develop moisture problems like mould, mildew, dampness, etc. These moisture problems make the environment very unhealthy and can be detrimental to you and your family. Moisture problems also impose health risks, like – coughing, wheezing, skin irritation, etc. People with mould allergies experience the most severe symptoms. Moisture problems impose severe health risks on people having asthma or some other underlying lung conditions. When you repair your basement foundation cracks, all the water is routed back outside, thereby making your basement problem-free. When your basement is free of these sorts of problems, you can use it as a living space or in any way you please. Having a fully functional basement automatically adds value to your property, i.e., if you want to sell it in the future, you won’t have any problems. You can set the price of your house at your desired amount. So, if you spot any cracks in your basement foundation, don’t delay and immediately seek professional help. If you wait, these cracks will widen and worsen, thereby increasing the risk factors.

How Can We Help?

There are several ways of repairing basement foundation cracks, depending on the type of cracks and the cause of those cracks. Our experts at Flood Tech are efficient in determining the kind of cracks and repairing methods it demands. 

  • If the cracks are present in a poured concrete foundation, our experts fill these cracks with expanding, flexible urethane sealant. As these walls are monolithic and solid, our experts use an injection method for pouring the sealant. We can’t fill the cracks present in the stone, brick, or block with this sealant. These walls comprise many pieces (like a puzzle), and these pieces are held together with a porous mortar. So, our experts use a trowel-on, flexible elastomeric membrane for repairing these walls from the outside. We can also use Epoxy, but it doesn’t prevent your wall from cracking again if the ground pressure pushes against it.
  • If you have previously repaired cracks that somehow cracked again, then our experts have got that covered as well. It is a unique challenge, and it demands some additional preparation and knowledge for choosing the proper method of sealing those cracks again. Our experts inject Urethane into the cracks, and then they seal the cracks from outside using an elastomeric membrane or sodium bentonite. 

Foundation crack repair techniques

  1. Crack Injection: A flexible epoxy or polyurethane resin is injected into the crack to fill and seal it. This method can be used for both small and large cracks.

  2. Carbon Fiber Stitching: Carbon fiber strips are applied to the crack to provide additional strength and stability to the concrete.

  3. Steel Reinforcement: Steel bars or mesh may be used to reinforce the concrete and prevent further cracking.

  4. Concrete Cutting: The concrete is cut and removed, and a new section of concrete is installed to replace the damaged area.

  5. Mudjacking: Concrete slurry is injected under the settling concrete to lift and level it. This method can be used for settling foundations.

  6. Piering: Concrete piers are installed deep into the ground to support the settling foundation and prevent further settling.

The appropriate technique for a specific crack repair job depends on the size and location of the crack, as well as the cause of the cracking.

The most important thing that you need to keep in mind is that only fixing the foundation cracks won’t do you any good because they might crack again. Once our experts repair the cracks, they can offer you the basement drainage service. In this, we will install an effective drainage system in your basement that will prevent water from entering your basement. These drainage systems are very effective. If some water manages to get inside your basement, these drainage systems can reroute them back outside and somewhere far away from your foundation. 

How epoxy or polyurethane is used to repair concrete cracks

Epoxy and polyurethane are two common materials used for concrete crack repair. The process is as follows:

  1. Cleaning: The crack is thoroughly cleaned to remove any dirt, dust, or debris.

  2. Preparing the surface: The surface around the crack is roughened to ensure better adhesion.

  3. Injection: The epoxy or polyurethane resin is injected into the crack using a pressure injection system. The material flows into the crack, filling and sealing it.

  4. Curing: The injected material is left to cure and harden, typically for several hours.

  5. Finishing: The surface around the crack may be smoothed or sanded to blend in with the surrounding concrete.

Epoxy is a strong and durable material that is ideal for repairing smaller, non-moving cracks. Polyurethane is a flexible material that can accommodate movement, making it suitable for larger or active cracks. The choice of material depends on the specific needs of each repair job.

Foundation Crack Repair Faq

Foundation cracks can be caused by settling, soil expansion, and freeze-thaw cycles.

Foundation cracks can be repaired using crack injection, a process where a flexible epoxy resin is injected into the crack to fill and seal it.

Yes, crack injection is a permanent solution that can effectively repair and stabilize foundation cracks.

Both the inside and outside of the building can be repaired using crack injection, depending on the location and severity of the crack.

The cost of foundation crack repair varies depending on the size and location of the crack, as well as the repair method used. Contact us for a free estimate.

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