How To Repair A Cracked Foundation From The Inside

Outside of hairline cracks, larger stress cracks occur when a house settles or the ground below it shifts. These types of cracks don't usually pose a threat to the structural integrity of a firm, but they practise allow for a potential opening for groundwater, insects and radon gas.

We'll show you a simple and effective mode to patch cracks with the best concrete crevice filler.

Gear up Concrete Cracks in viii Steps

Stride ane: Repair a Foundation Crack With an Epoxy Sealer

Man Using Wire Brush to Clean Crack in Concrete

We repaired a foundation wall, which had an 8-ft.-long crevice that leaked water into the basement during periods of heavy rainfall. To permanently patch the scissure nosotros used an epoxy-injection organization from Polygem, chosen the Liquid Concrete Repair Kit (well-nigh $60).

Each kit contains a two-function epoxy scissure sealer, two 10-oz. tubes of Liquid Physical Repair (LCR), a viscous epoxy that comes in a caulk-blazon cartridge, and seven plastic injection ports that deliver the LCR deep into the crevice. In that location'due south enough cloth in each kit to repair a i/sixteen-in.-broad ten 8-in.-deep x 8-ft.-long crack.

Before you start, bank check to make sure the scissure is dry out. If the crack is slightly damp, dry information technology with a accident-dryer, then wait 15 minutes. If it remains dry out, go along with the repair. All the same, if the dampness returns, h2o is still seeping into the scissure and y'all'll take to wait for it to dry out on its own.

Outset, scrub the cleft clean of any loose physical, paint or old crack filler using a wire brush. Remove all grit and droppings with a shop vacuum.

Step two: Cake Out the Injection Ports

Hammering Nail In Crack For Injection Ports

Tap 3-in. (10d) finishing nails partway into the crevice, spaced 12 in. apart. You'll use them to align the injection ports with the scissure.

Footstep 3: Mix the Epoxy Sealer

Open the two containers of epoxy cleft sealer and scoop out equal amounts of Part A and Part B; utilise two separate sticks to avert contamination. Mix the two parts on a fleck board using a clean putty pocketknife; alloy until you accomplish a compatible gray color.

Step iv: Attach the Injection Port

Attaching Injection Port in Cracked Concrete

Spread some sealer onto the base of one of the plastic injection ports, being careful not to plug up its pigsty. Slide the port over one of the nails sticking out of the crack and press it to the wall. Install the remaining ports in a like manner.

Step 5: Spread Sealer Along the Crevice

Applying Epoxy Sealer on Crack on Concrete Wall

Adjacent, mix up a slightly larger batch of epoxy sealer and apply it to the entire fissure using a 1 ½-in.-broad putty pocketknife or margin trowel. Spread the sealer about 1/viii in. thick and 1 in. on either side of the crack. Too, cover the entire flange of each injection port with crack sealer, leaving only the extended neck portion showing. Smooth out the sealer and feather its edges with a paintbrush dipped in mineral spirits.

Step 6: Inject the Epoxy into the Crack

If the other side of the wall is accessible, see if the cleft goes clean through. If it does, seal information technology up with scissure sealer, too. Allow the sealer to cure for 6 to 10 hours before injecting the epoxy. Thoroughly mix the LCR epoxy using the plunger rod that comes with the kit. Identify the LCR cartridge into a caulk gun. Starting at the lowest injection port, dispense the epoxy into the crack. Continue squeezing the trigger until epoxy begins to ooze out of the port directly to a higher place.

Step 7: Seal Upwardly the Injection Ports

Remove the gun and plug upward the port you just filled. Now insert the cartridge tip into the port that'southward oozing and squeeze the trigger to manipulate the epoxy. Repeat this procedure for the remaining ports; plug up each one before moving on to the side by side.

Stride 8: Cutting Away the Injection Ports

Allow the LCR to cure for five days, and so cutting off the necks of the ports with a hacksaw. If desired, you lot tin patch the severed ports with a fiddling crack sealer.

Resource:

Polygem
Box 609
Dept. TH700
W. Chicago, IL 60186
Polygem
630/231-5600