Solid Foundation Crack Repairs
Leaking Solid foundation Wall Crack Repairs.
Most times 2 options are available for repairing leaking cracks on solid foundation walls.
1. Interior repairs– Basement Waterproofing Solutions developed a system for repairing foundation cracks on solid cement foundation walls in the early 1970s and we have been utilizing this exact repair system since. We offer a transferable 20 year warranty on all interior crack repairs.
The foundation wall is mechanically scraped clean to the bare foundation surface. If the crack was previously repaired, all previously applied materials need to be removed from the wall. (Including paint) Next, we chip or cut a groove into the wall along the crack. The wall is than cleaned and filled with a hydraulic cement mixture. After the cement dries a heavy grade epoxy and rubber coating is applied over the hydraulic cement. Upon drying all material bond together as one.
What makes this repair so successful? The hydraulic cement stops active leaking cracks and the epoxy and rubber allows the crack to continue to expand and contract as it seals the crack. The water will eventually push its way back into the ground. A common question is asked-Will the water that enters the crack eventually erode the foundation wall from the outside? The answer is no. We have had the opportunity to examine these repairs over the last 50 years have never once any type of erosion.
2. Exterior repairs– Exterior wall repairs are warrantied for lifetime are transferable to new owners. Our exterior repair system was also developed many years ago and has proven to be successful time and time again. These repairs are performed differently than an interior repair as the water pressure is working in our favor-pushing the repair on the wall. But this does not make the repair easy. The key to a successful exterior repair is to prevent the ground water from penetrating the edges of the repair. Unlike an interior repair, on the exterior, there is no need to chip a groove into the foundation wall. 1st a hole needs to be excavate slightly lower than the foundations footing. This excavation can be as little as 1Ft deep or over 8Ft deep depending how buried the foundation is. The hole must also be large enough for a man to have enough room to address the most crucial part of the crack, which is the bottom. The foundation wall is then cleaned and dried. A primer is than applied to the wall and 2 layers of a sheet rubber membrane is laid over the primer. The membrane overlaps the footing and the second layer of membrane is cut wider than the first. Ground water will need to penetrate both edges of the membrane layers for the repair to malfunction. 1 layer of membrane will permanently repair a foundation crack, but we apply 2 for extra protection.
Block Foundation Wall Crack Repairs
Most cracks in block-built foundations do not seep water.
Some cracks in block foundations can be structural and will require a structural repair.
Carbon Fiber, steel wall supports, support buttresses and piering are some of the structural repairs that are required on block-built walls. If a structural crack is ignored, a foundation wall can eventually push into the point of no return and a new foundation wall will need to be built. Please visit our structural /Foundation repair page for additional info.
Leaking Block Foundation Wall Crack Repairs
Leaking cracks on a block foundation wall must be repaired from the interior and exterior. Installing a French drain might be a better option in some situations. Water can enter the cavities of a block foundation from many different places and leak into the basement through a wall crack (EX: Pipe penetrations, mortar joints, wall fractures or through the pours of the block)
A leaking crack on a block foundation can be repaired same as on a solid foundation wall. Interior-Crack is cut, filled with hydraulic cement, epoxy, and rubber.
Exterior- Excavate and apply the double layer sheet membrane.
None Leaking/Non-Structural Block Foundation Wall Crack Repairs
These cracks are not much to worry about but should be monitored. Often, they will show up on home inspection reports. Typically, the repair process can vary according to engineer or homes inspectors requirements. A common method is to cut along the crack with a diamond saw blade. Clean and fill the crack with hydraulic cement and then cover the with a silicone rubber coating. On smaller fractures, silicone calk with a finished finger bead is all it takes. This type of repair has limited ability to prevent water penetration into a basement therefore are not warrantied against water.