Foundation cracks compromise the strength and durability of your home. Addressing the foundation cracks head-on can make a huge difference, significantly reducing repair costs and further damages.
Although some cracks are just a result of minor foundation settling, you need to be mindful of the serious signs of foundation damage, most of which you’ll notice in your basement wall. This article will help you understand how to assess foundation cracks and give you the top 3 effective solutions to address them for good.
How to assess your foundation cracks
To fully examine the type of crack and the seriousness of the damage, look closely at the following elements:
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- Length of the crack. Small hairline cracks are usually harmless, however, longer cracks that extend up to several feet that continue to grow may require expert attention.
- Location (whether it’s internal or external). This plays a significant role in examining whether you need a major repair or not. Internal cracks are often more feasible to repair than external cracks where there’s much more intrusion into your property. Either way, addressing both should be a top priority to minimize repair costs and potential damages in the future.
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- The direction of the crack. Horizontal and diagonal foundation cracks are often more dangerous than vertical cracks because they might be a cause of differential settlement or pressure of water from the soil, which can result in unstable structural integrity.
- Width. Minor vertical hairline cracks are usually not a serious foundation issue if there are no other signs that could potentially lead to some critical ones. If your crack is about ⅛ inch or more, this can indicate serious foundation damage so make sure to call foundation repairers near you as soon as possible.
- Other signs and symptoms such as moisture and bowing walls.
Different foundation cracks require different techniques to address for good. Some require simple solutions, but some need bigger planning and more complicated techniques. For instance, hairline cracks can be fixed with a polyurethane injection that can fill narrow gaps and strengthen your structural integrity.
At Power Foundations, a foundation repair in London offers a variety of solutions to repair foundation issues for good. Here are the top 3 techniques that you can consider, based on your needs.
Repair Foundation Cracks with these Top 3 Techniques
1. Polyurethane/structural epoxy injection
For sealing and waterproofing non-structural foundation cracks from the inside, polyurethane or epoxy injection is highly recommended. It penetrates deep into the cracks to ensure it covers everything, not to mention that it’s a quick, non-intrusive, and cost-effective process.
The difference between epoxy and polyurethane is that the first one works best in dry substrate, while the latter works very well in wet and actively leaking cracks. Polyurethane injection also prevents moisture migration that might eventually lead to structural damage or decay and corrosion.
Both fully cured injection solutions strengthen the foundation and offer outstanding results in terms of compressive and tensile strength.
A foundation repair in London, Ontario utilizes this effective crack solution for their residential and commercial clients. For instance, one of their case studies highlights how they provided long-term durability and prevented water intrusion when a client developed significant cracks in their foundation.
Although you may be tempted to use epoxy or polyurethane crack injection when you see one, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s still important to get in touch with a crack repair service near you to ensure you’re doing the right thing.
2. Carbon fiber repair
The carbon fiber repair procedure may seem simple, but you’d be surprised how these thin strips can significantly boost your structural strength, being 10x stronger than steel!
If your foundation is bowed inward or cracked, carbon fiber foundation repair in London is one of the most effective ways to stabilize it. This bowing or cracking can be caused by hydrostatic pressure in the soil around the foundation, as it exerts a powerful force against your walls. Hydrostatic pressure can be simply due to the buildup of water that can’t drain off. Other causes might be growing tree roots, construction failures, or poor quality construction like improper steel reinforcement and more.
Your foundation repair contractor will use carbon fiber strips and attach them from top to bottom of the wall. Prior to that, your contractor will drill small holes in the wall and put industrial-strength epoxy to anchor the carbon fiber strips. They won’t straighten your wall though, but they can definitely stabilize your foundation and provide massive strength to hold the structure together.
Some of the benefits of carbon fiber foundation repair:
- No maintenance is needed once fully cured
- Carbon fiber lie flat on the wall and don’t take up any space
- You can cover carbon fiber with paint
- No intrusion or excavation is required, less invasive
- Fast installation and curing
- Minimal noise and dust
Although carbon repair is highly recommended, it’s important to consult your foundation contractor if it’s sufficient to address the root cause of your foundation damage. Contact a foundation repair in London here.
3. Exterior Waterproofing
It’s a nightmare to wake up with flooding in your basement. No one wants a leaking wall! Cracks in your foundation often cause this major inconvenience. With continuous water infiltration, your foundation will be susceptible to mold, structural damage, and expensive repairs in the future.
Although it’s the most intrusive among the other crack repair techniques in this blog, exterior waterproofing is the most effective way to protect your property from water damage and fix your wet basement cracks. This process involves putting a barrier between the exterior walls and water to prevent penetration into your structure.
Your foundation contractor would advise you on the amount of surface preparation they need for your wet basement repair and the required materials, and they’d install a new drainage system to successfully waterproof your home.
Here are some of the most important materials used in exterior waterproofing:
- Waterproofing membranes. These are the waterproof barriers that foundation repair in London would apply for a successful waterproofing project. They come in different varieties depending on the purpose.
- Cement-based waterproofing products. These are obtained by combining the elements of cement, sand, polymer additives, and water, which effectively prevent water leakage and serve as a permanent waterproof coating to fix your wet basement.
- Crystalline admixtures. Chemical admixtures increase the durability of your concrete. They form a solid waterproof layer. The crystalline element works its magic by crystallizing the surface and increasing the overall water resistance of your foundation.
Once you waterproof your exterior walls, environmental factors such as rain, flood, snow, wind, and sunlight won’t cause wear and tear to your basement walls. You can significantly reduce your energy costs and extend the lifespan of your property.
Waterproofing can also be done indoors. Check this interior waterproofing project by Power Foundations.
Conclusion
Investing in professional crack repair services spares you from a lot of burden, especially in terms of cost, while you keep your structure in optimal condition in the years to come. Letting your cracks grow and leaks unattended would just mean more costly repairs and greater damages in the future.
When you’re thinking of repairing your foundation issues, it’s highly recommended to opt for the best foundation company to do the solutions for you. The team at Power Foundations in London provides expert techniques and solutions, including waterproofing your basement to address water leaks, carbon fiber reinforcements to repair bowed structures, and top-quality crack repair injections to restore your foundation’s strength.
Ready to fix your foundation cracks and leaks? Get professional advice and expert solutions with Power Foundations. Contact us today!
