Repairing Foundation Cracks - Home Improvement Articles

So we all know concrete doesn?t last forever, right? This rule applies to many things: roads, sidewalks, stairs, The Sphynx? And your foundation walls are no exception! We should all know at this point that a crack is bound to appear on your foundation at one time or another. If you didn?t know, then here?s your official notice: Your foundation will crack. There, now that that?s settled let?s move on. If you all don?t know who I am, my name is Jeff Schleuning. I have over 35 years of experience in the basement waterproofing industry, and have seen a lot over the years. It is my hope that I can bring some of what I?ve learned to the table to help educate you, as well as doing my own small part to bring the waterproofing industry as a whole out of its shroud of mystery, and make it easy to understand for everyone.

This week I?d like to take some time and talk about foundation cracks. There are a few ways to deal with them, and it is helpful to break them down into two broad categories: interior fixes and exterior fixes. Each solution has its own benefits, and are both dependent on surrounding conditions. Let?s take a look at the interior solution.

Repairing cracks from the inside is a cheap and easy way to go, and can generally be done in an hour or two. This solution is great for smaller hairline cracks, and cracks that are producing little to no water seepage. Basically, if the crack is relatively new, less than 1/8? in diameter, and your foundation doesn?t have much of a history of seepage: go with a quick interior fix. This can be done a few different ways: by chipping it out, or by injecting it. Chipping out a crack is a bit more labor intensive, but will yield a more natural looking result (if done neatly). Basically the process involves using a large chipping hammer to chip out the existing crack, approx. 3 inches wide and 3 inches deep, and then filling the void with waterproof hydraulic cement. You can then simply smooth out or grind down any excess. This method is great for those who are a bit more concerned with aesthetics. There is, however, a slightly more effective interior solution, usually reserved for larger or wetter foundation cracks. This method is called epoxy injection. Basically this involves a high pressure injection of polyurethane foam directly into the crack, and all the way through the wall. This repair ?stands out? a bit more, visually, but will generally produce a stronger patch than cement.

Of course if there is a lot of water present around the exterior of the foundation, and you see a lot of seepage coming in through your foundation crack(s), you may want to pursue an exterior basement waterproofing solution. This method is a bit more effective in making sure the water stays completely out of your wall and doesn?t seep into it at all. This can be accomplished by digging out the entire crack all the way down to the foundation footing, and sealing it over with a few layers of waterproofing mastic (tar) and industrial-grade plastic sheeting. This can be done all by itself, but would be significantly more effective and longer lasting if it were paired with exterior drain tile, to help move the water away from the foundation, as opposed to letting it collect against the wall, as it normally would. Of course this is a costlier option and involves more work, but you have to decide what makes more sense over the long-term.

Simply put, how much do I care? If you?re not really concerned, and haven?t noticed any water, go ahead and get it patched or injected from the inside (yes, now ? it will only get worse). If you?re more concerned about the long term health of your foundation, and have experience significant moisture as a result of foundation cracking, consider an exterior option with drain tile.

As always, feel free to join the conversation on Twitter. Follow @waterproofhelp for helpful tips, or to ask me a question!

Stay tuned for my next article, where I will be talking about sump pumps!

Source: http://www.hihut.com/repairing-foundation-cracks.html

bob costas krzyzewski childish gambino sandusky interview with bob costas sandusky interview with bob costas live oak mark kelly