Basement crack repair can be very expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Repairing foundation cracks is certainly not as easy as spraying them with liquid epoxy. There are several kinds of foundations and cracks, and even different methods to properly perform basement crack repair for each one. Before you hire somebody to fix them, if you’re noticing basement cracks in your basement, here are several things you should know.
Most basement crack repairs start by checking the outside. Cracks often appear in the concrete walls that surround the house. You’ll want to make sure these are smooth and even. Smoothness means less moisture, which is a good sign that the problem area is getting more moisture than it needs.
Next, look for cracks or leaks in the siding or the fascia board. These are the first places you’ll see leaks. Once you’ve located and noted any leaks, you can move on to the next step. That next step is to obtain the proper repairing materials.
Basement repair materials vary greatly. In addition to the material itself, there are several other things you’ll need to purchase to repair your leaky basement. A penetrating agent is necessary to repair small cracks, and borate is a chemical that will bond the repair material to the wall and prevent further leaks from occurring. Epoxy is the most commonly used repairing agent, and it’s also the safest.
A penetrating agent is a mixture of baking soda, water, and granular materials designed to penetrate the surface and bond to the original concrete slab or wall. While it’s a good idea to mix the compounds yourself, using an injection machine is easier and less expensive. If you choose to have a crack repair injection machine perform the job, be sure to get one that’s equipped with a stainless steel tank and a cold air compressor. This will make the job go as smoothly as possible.
One of the main reasons people choose epoxy wall crack repair products is the cost. Since they’re applied at the exterior, the product will significantly reduce the amount of money you would otherwise spend fixing the problem. In fact, many people find they can save enough money each year by performing the repairs themselves that they don’t even bother buying a home improvement kit. And, since you can perform the repairs yourself, you never have to worry about damaging the foundation or your home.
Basement floor cracks aren’t usually much bigger than a dime, but they do make the room feel cold and damp. If you’re in need of extra heating and cooling, or just want to make the basement more comfortable for living, epoxies are very effective at both tasks. The cool thing is that they also provide added insulation. So, not only are you sealing the leaky cement walls, you’re also sealing in the energy that would otherwise be lost due to cold floors and concrete walls.
Epoxy crack repair has a couple of other advantages as well. Because they’re designed to fill in large cracks, the resiliency also makes these products much more durable than others. This means that the repairs won’t rust once they’ve healed completely. Some people even find that applying some of these products directly to their concrete floors does wonders for the feel of their home and gives it a new life.
There are some drawbacks to using epoxies or repairing concrete cracks with these products. First, they must be properly sealed to protect the materials they’re made of from the elements and from blowing away in high winds. This can be tricky, since some epoxies do better when applied on top of another type of sealing agent. It’s best to use a contractor to apply the epoxies or to hire a skilled worker to apply them. Since these epoxies don’t go on very easily, it’s important that they’re applied carefully to get the best results possible.
Finally, some homeowners may think that applying an epoxy will cost them too much money. Not so! While some epoxies are more expensive than others, the price range varies widely. You can buy some at your local home improvement store, and there are some retailers who sell them in larger quantities at a decent discount. You can also purchase them in bulk from home improvement stores that specialize in high-end home improvement supplies and do-it-yourself projects. If you have basement waterproofing needs but don’t want to pay for repairs, then consider using an epoxy based sealant to fix your foundation walls.
Epoxy sealants work well as basement waterproofing agents because of their chemical structure. As a base, the liquid is composed of water, oxygen, and a multitude of chemicals and additives, many of which react differently depending on their specific purpose. As a liquid, it’s hard to break apart, and once it’s applied to a wall, it fills up the void between the concrete and the exterior surface, creating a nearly impenetrable barrier that protects the interior from outside elements. Once it dries, the chemical reaction which forms the seal cures the crack, making it impervious to water, air, and staining.