How Repair A Foundation Crack and Waterproof Basement Walls

If your basement is wet and needs repairs, you may need to know how to repair a foundation crack. This is very important for the rest of the house, because the foundation supports the entire home.

If you do notice a crack, it is essential to find out what caused it in the first place. It is not enough to merely fill in the crack with some cement and paint it. You need to get to the source, otherwise it will only get worse.

Hire a structural engineer

The best approach is to hire a professional structural engineer to assess the damage. He may cost you money up front, but most likely will save you a great deal of aggravation and money in the long run.

You will get a detailed report with recommended steps to repair the foundation crack. One advantage to this approach is that you may actually make the problem worse by doing it yourself. For example, you may not even consider that it is possible that the foundation damage was caused by the shrinking and swelling of the soil surrounding the house.

If the pressure from the soil around the house varies from season to season, the foundation can crack. The way to remedy this is to ensure that the moisture in the soil remains fairly constant throughout the year.

A quick and easy way to do this is to drill a 6 inch hole four or five feet deep in the soil close to your house. Fill it with drain rock and keep it wet. The water in the hole will move into the soil and in many cases allow the soil to expand and it will repair the foundation crack on its own.

By using this method, once the cause is corrected, you can repair a foundation crack with a permanent and watertight seal. There are many excellent seals on the market, and you can do this yourself.

Polyurethane Foams

You will need to seal the crack to insure the the foundation is watertight. There are several polyurethane products on the market which can be injected into cracks that are anywhere from hairline to inches in width.

Polyurethane foams can be injected into the foundation crack as a liquid. In this way the crack is slowly and gently filled. The polyurethane undergoes a chemical reaction with the water and begins foaming. Over time, the polyurethane will expand to over 30 times its size as a liquid.

Applied Technologies has a great line of basement waterproofing products, including the 40' Urethane Contractor Kit. These are also great for the DIY homeowner because they come with a DVD showing how to repair the crack using the foam.

They also have a 40' Contractor Peel-Off Paste Kit and a DIY Concrete Foundation Crack Repair Kit. These are easy to use and relatively inexpensive.

Keep your foundation free from cracks

If you notice a crack, you need to take action. If you do not, it is only a matter of time before you are faced with musty basement odors, wood and carpet damage, getting rid of mold and mildew, and declining property values.

If you do repair the foundation and notice that new cracks keep appearing, it is essential that you hire a professional to inspect your house and give you a plan of action. Companies such as Ram-Jack Foundation Solutions, and A-1 Foundation Crack Repair in New England have complete services that you can use to solve your problem.