Repair Foundation Cracks

Foundation repair is a big part of modern home repair. Foundation cracks are often the first sign that there may be problems with your foundation and can lead to extensive damage if left untreated for too long.

Request Free Estimate

How to Repair Foundation Cracks

Foundation repair is a big part of modern home repair. Foundation cracks are often the first sign that there may be problems with your foundation and can lead to extensive damage if left untreated for too long. Fortunately, most cracks don’t need extensive repair work but will require some attention from an experienced contractor.

When it comes to repairing a cracked foundation, there are many different approaches. One of the more common methods includes digging out the dirt down below the crack and pouring in some concrete repair material; this is sometimes referred to as “injection.” This approach can come with its own set of difficulties though: while it does repair the crack, it can often result in a foundation that is no longer level.

Another popular approach to repairing cracked foundations is by using hydraulic cement; this type of repair material hardens and spreads out across the surface of the ground which helps prevent any future cracking or sinking at that particular location. However, even though hydraulic cement repair is one of the more popular approaches, it does require a lot of time to dry before people can walk on it.

Fixing Foundation Cracks from the Outside

These will create a pathway for water to infiltrate your foundation and cause more damage over time. Fill in any open cracks around doors, windows, or other foundation openings with caulk. Use steel wool if you need to remove paint from these areas first (you may want to use gloves as well). If there is concrete dust at the top of an exterior wall near where it meets another surface such as roofing shingle, siding, or eaves troughs, clean that area off before applying sealant; otherwise, when curing time passes by some of this dust may get into the crack and weaken its bondability eventually leading to future failure. Apply sealants along all sides of the foundation walls so that the sealant coats the foundation. This will prevent water from seeping in and providing a pathway for foundation damage to occur. Avoid using quick-drying products on vertical surfaces as excessive heat can be emitted during curing which may cause materials nearby to ignite or burn.

How to fix Foundation Cracks by Yourself

A small crack or break can turn into a bigger problem if not addressed and repaired quickly. Foundation repair is essential to ensure your home’s structural integrity and avoid costly repairs later on down the road. When you notice signs of damage, don’t delay the repair.

If you repair a crack before it becomes too big, most repair compounds are easy to apply and will hold up just as well as larger cracks with longer repair periods. Foundation repair is not usually an emergency job that should be addressed immediately; instead, make time for this project when your schedule permits so the repair can be set properly overnight.

Hairline Crack in the Foundation

The most cost-effective solution is to repair the hairline crack in your foundations with epoxy injection. This type of repair will typically last for many years and can be done by a professional or you may do it yourself if you have experience working with this material. You will need to rent an injection pump as well as a repair product.

This is a task that you will need to plan for and budget accordingly, but it can be done in about an hour if everything goes smoothly. The process starts by drilling small holes near the crack line with a drill bit about two inches deep or less depending on how far apart they are located from each other.

Next, you will need to mix the epoxy and inject it into the small holes with a pump once for each hole. You may want to wear gloves due to this being an industrial type of process, but if not just make sure your hands are clean before starting. Once the repair is made wait about one hour to make sure that the repair is cured.