MỤC LỤC
Do Cracks in Walls Indicate a Structural Problem?
Larger stress cracks occur when a house settles or the footing beneath it shifts. These types of cracks typically don ’ thyroxine threaten the structural integrity of the house, but they do create an entry compass point for groundwater, insects and radon accelerator. here, we ’ ll show you a simple, effective way to patch cracks in decant concrete walls .
If you notice big, recurring cracks or bulging walls at your house, don ’ thymine attempt to fix these conditions yourself. The cracks might indicate a more serious geomorphologic problem ; call in a structural mastermind for an in-depth evaluation .
several masonry patching products, such as hydraulic cement, do an adequate job of filling cracks in concrete walls. however, these products can fail after a few years if your foundation garment or retaining wall continues to move slenderly, leaving you with little choice but to bit them out and start all over again.
Reading: Fixing Cracks In Concrete Walls
Before Your Begin
Before you start, check to make sure the crack is dry. If the crack is slenderly damp, dry it with a blow-dryer, then wait 15 minutes. If it remains dry, proceed with the compensate .
however, if the damp returns, water is still seeping into the crack and you ’ ll have to wait for it to dry out on its own .
Concrete Wall Crack Repair in 8 Steps
Use an Epoxy-Injection System for Basement Wall Crack Repair
We repaired a foundation wall, which had an 8-ft.-long crack that leak water into the basement during periods of heavy rain. To permanently patch the crack we used an epoxy-injection system from Polygem, called the Liquid Concrete Repair Kit ( $ 60 ) .
Each kit contains a bipartite epoxy crack sealant, two 10-oz. tubes of Liquid Concrete Repair ( LCR ), a syrupy epoxy that comes in a caulk-type cartridge, and seven plastic injection ports that deliver the LCR bass into the crack. There ’ south enough substantial in each kit to repair a 1/16-in.-wide adam 8-in.-deep ten 8-ft.-long crack .
Step 1: Scrub it Clean
first, scrub the crack houseclean of any loose concrete, rouge or honest-to-god filler using a cable brush. Remove all dust and debris with a denounce vacuum .
Step 2: Use a Nail to Align Injection Points
Tap 3-in. ( 10d ) finish breeze through partway into the crack, spaced 12 in. apart. You ‘ll use them to align the injection ports with the wisecrack .
Step 3: Mix the Two-Part Epoxy Crack Sealer
Open up the two containers of epoxy fracture sealant and scoop out peer amounts of Part A and Part B ; use two separate sticks to avoid contamination .
Mix the two parts on a fight board using a clean putty tongue ; blend until you achieve a uniform gray color.
Step 4: Spread the Sealer onto Base
Spread some sealant onto the base of one of the fictile injection ports, being careful not to plug up its hole. Slide the port over one of the nails sticking out of the crack and weigh it to the wall .
Install the remaining ports in a alike manner .
Step 5: Mix and Apply a Larger Batch of Epoxy Sealer
next, mix up a slenderly larger batch of epoxy sealer and apply it to the entire gap using a 1 1/2-in.-wide putty tongue or margin trowel .
Spread the sealant about 1/8 in. thick and 1 in. on either side of the crack. besides, cover the entire flange of each injection port with gap sealant, leaving only the extend neck part showing. Smooth out the sealant and feather its edges with a paintbrush dipped in mineral spirits .
If the early side of the wall is accessible, see if the gap goes clean through. If it does, seal it up with crack sealant, besides. Allow the sealant to cure for 6 to 10 hours before injecting the epoxy .
Step 6: Dispense the LCR Epoxy
thoroughly mix the LCR epoxy using the plunger perch that comes with the kit. Place the LCR cartridge into a caulk artillery. Starting at the lowest injection port, dispense the epoxy into the crack .
Step 7: Fill Up the Ports
Continue squeezing the trigger until epoxy begins to ooze out of the port directly above. Remove the accelerator and punch up the port you barely filled.
now insert the cartridge topple into the port that ‘s oozing and squeeze the trigger to dispense the epoxy. Repeat this routine for the remaining ports ; plug up each one before moving on to the next .
Step 8: Cut Necks of the Ports
Allow the LCR to cure for five days, then cut off the necks of the ports with a hacksaw. If desired, you can patch the severed ports with a little crack sealer .
Where To Find It
Polygem
Box 609
Dept. TH700
W. Chicago, IL 60186
Polygem
630/231-5600
