How To Repair A Large Crack In Foundation Wall

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

We'll show you a simple and constructive manner to patch cracks with the best concrete cleft filler.

Fix Concrete Cracks in 8 Steps

Footstep 1: Repair a Foundation Fissure With an Epoxy Sealer

Photo Geoffrey Gross

We repaired a foundation wall, which had an 8-ft.-long scissure that leaked h2o into the basement during periods of heavy rainfall. To permanently patch the crevice we used an epoxy-injection organization from Polygem, called the Liquid Concrete Repair Kit (almost $60).

Each kit contains a two-office epoxy cleft sealer, two x-oz. tubes of Liquid Concrete Repair (LCR), a viscous epoxy that comes in a caulk-type cartridge, and seven plastic injection ports that deliver the LCR deep into the crack. There's enough cloth in each kit to repair a 1/16-in.-wide x 8-in.-deep x 8-ft.-long crack.

Before you start, bank check to make sure the crevice is dry out. If the crack is slightly damp, dry out it with a blow-dryer, and so wait 15 minutes. If information technology remains dry out, proceed with the repair. Yet, if the dampness returns, water is even so seeping into the fissure and you'll have to look for it to dry out on its own.

Showtime, scrub the crack clean of whatsoever loose concrete, paint or quondam fissure filler using a wire castor. Remove all dust and droppings with a store vacuum.

Step 2: Cake Out the Injection Ports

Photo Geoffrey Gross

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

Step 3: Mix the Epoxy Sealer

Photo Geoffrey Gross

Open upwardly the two containers of epoxy crack sealer and scoop out equal amounts of Part A and Office B; use two dissever sticks to avoid contagion. Mix the two parts on a scrap board using a make clean putty knife; blend until you achieve a uniform gray color.

Step four: Attach the Injection Port

Photo Geoffrey Gross

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

Step 5: Spread Sealer Along the Crack

Photograph Geoffrey Gross

Next, mix upwardly a slightly larger batch of epoxy sealer and use it to the unabridged fissure using a ane ½-in.-wide putty knife or margin trowel. Spread the sealer about 1/viii in. thick and 1 in. on either side of the crack. Also, cover the entire flange of each injection port with crevice sealer, leaving only the extended neck portion showing. Shine out the sealer and feather its edges with a paintbrush dipped in mineral spirits.

Pace 6: Inject the Epoxy into the Scissure

Photograph Geoffrey Gross

If the other side of the wall is accessible, see if the crack goes clean through. If it does, seal it up with crack 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. Go on squeezing the trigger until epoxy begins to ooze out of the port directly above.

Pace 7: Seal Upward the Injection Ports

Photo Geoffrey Gross

Remove the gun and plug upwardly the port you simply filled. Now insert the cartridge tip into the port that's oozing and squeeze the trigger to dispense the epoxy. Repeat this procedure for the remaining ports; plug up each ane before moving on to the next.

Step 8: Cut Away the Injection Ports

Photograph Geoffrey Gross

Allow the LCR to cure for 5 days, then cut off the necks of the ports with a hacksaw. If desired, you tin can patch the severed ports with a little fissure sealer.

Resource:

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

Source: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/masonry/21016504/fixing-cracks-in-concrete

Posted by: knowltonthumbell.blogspot.com

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