Other Foundation Wall Crack Repair Methods Used in Ohio
When it comes to basement wall crack repair, there are many methods used to try to stop water from leaking through the crack and into your basement. Of the methods available today, Ohio Basement Systems recommends Basement Systems' patented FlexiSpan Basement Wall Crack Repair System. Ohio Basement Systems offers this solution throughout Northern Ohio. Call or contact us today for a free foundation wall crack repair estimate!
If other repair methods never worked, they wouldn't be used at all. Most basement wall crack repairs work some of the time. However, like most building practices, there is a bad way, a good way, and a best way to do it. Here are some of the repairs that we at Ohio Basement Systems of Macedonia, OH do not recommend.
Caulk Crack Repair
A commonly used method to repair wall cracks in Ohio is to plug the crack with a caulk seal. This kind of fix is only skin deep- water will still fill the crack behind the patch. Efflorescence- a white, powdery mineral salt deposited by the water passing through the concrete, can break the seal while the pressure of the water makes the caulk peel off. This kind of repair usually won't last very long at all, if it even works from the start.
Hydraulic Cement Crack Fillings
Homeowners and waterproofers will sometimes try to fix a basement crack by chiseling an inverted V-groove in the wall and filling the groove with hydraulic cement. This rigid cement plugs the hole, but its bond with the cement is very poor. As the concrete wall changes with different temperatures and moisture levels, it will separate from the hydraulic cement patch. Efflorescence will gather around the seal, and soon water will be able to pass through. Hydraulic cement is also porous just like your walls and moisture can pass right through it!
Epoxy Crack Injections
Basement waterproofing contractors in Akron, OH and nearby, have been known to use epoxy or even grout to seal a foundation wall crack. These seals are strong and very rigid. However, epoxy must be applied to only a very dry surface, and because it's very slow to cure, it may run out the other side of the wall crack before hardening.
Like hydraulic cements, epoxy plugs are rigid and inflexible. As the concrete wall expands and shrinks, this plug may fail. In some cases, new cracks may even form at weak points in the basement wall nearby, caused by the strain on the wall.
Fixing Wall Cracks from the Exterior
Some basement waterproofers will recommend excavating the entire outside of the wall where the crack appeared and installing a waterproof barrier. To do this, landscaping, sidewalks, porches, steps, gardens, and anything else outside of the foundation is removed, and mounds of dirt are piled on the lawn. Multiple layers of synthetic waterproof material are installed to prevent any further movement of the wall and to lock water out.
After this has been completed, the dirt and landscaping are returned. However, the fluffed, excavated soil will settle, and you will need to regrade for a few years to preventing pooling. Water can also flow very easily through this loose soil. These tar coatings eventually deteriorate as water and soil sit against them.
Urethane Injection in Ohio
One better method of sealing a basement wall crack in Cleveland, OH and areas nearby is to inject it with urethane. As the urethane sets, it effectively seals off the crack without running out of the other side. Unlike the more rigid options, urethane can flex slightly with wall movement, helping it have longer life as the basement walls expand and shrink. However, a 1/16th inch crack can expand to as much as 1/8th inch. In these cases, urethane will not be able to expand nearly enough to maintain the seal. Eventually, even this solution will fail, and the gap will begin to leak once more.
Polyurethane Polymer Injection
One of the best methods for sealing a leaking wall crack in Ohio is to inject it with a high-viscosity polyurethane polymer. Unlike epoxy, some types of polyurethane can bond well to concrete even when it's wet. The high viscosity of some polyurethane polymers allows it to fill even hairline cracks, creating a deep hold on the crack's edges.
Unlike urethane, a polyurethane polymer is able to expand to up to 20 times its volume. This means that the seal will not be lost as the well continues its natural shifting, expanding, and shrinking process. And, unlike the costly exterior methods, the work is noninvasive to the yard and can be completed in just a few hours.
Aside from looking terrible in your basement, over time, this seal can also occasionally leak. Click for more information about Ohio Basement Systems' FlexiSpan Wall Crack Repair System, or call us today for a free leaky basement wall crack estimate! We service the state of Ohio, including Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain.