Steps to Repairing a Crack in Your Home Foundation

Your foundation supports the entire building. Hence, the need to ensure it’s always in proper condition. When cracks develop in the foundation, they compromise the safety and integrity of your home. Proper and timely foundation repairs prevent further deterioration, which may necessitate costly repairs. Here are the steps to fix cracks in your foundation.

Locate the Foundation Crack

The first step is to locate the crack in the foundation. That way, you’ll know the best approach to fixing it and set up your working area.

Inspect the Cracks

Foundation cracks can occur for various reasons. To repair a crack correctly, you must investigate it to know the cause. Maybe the settling of the ground around the foundation is the reason for the crack. Also, water can infiltrate your foundation walls, causing expansion and contraction of the concrete due to temperature changes. Such factors can cause stress and weaken the concrete in your foundation. Addressing such issues when repairing a crack in your foundation is the best way to ensure a long-lasting solution.

Excavate the Ground

After inspecting the crack, excavate the ground to find out its entirety. Moreover, the foundation repair experts will have better access to the crack when you dig a large hole next to the foundation.

Prep the Crack for Repair

Repairing large foundation cracks requires you to clear the loose materials, including cracked or broken bits of concrete, debris, and dust. Use a stiff wire brush or a screwdriver to remove them. Also, you may have to undercut the edges to widen the crack slightly. That way, the patch will have sufficient surface area to adhere without sipping out.

Apply the Repair Material

Applying cement to the crack is the most prevalent method of repairing foundation cracks from the outside. The crack becomes invisible from the exterior once the cement dries. However, you may use other methods, such as injecting a polyurethane or epoxy filler into the groove. Once it has dried, you can smooth the excess material before painting over it to achieve an even finish. Also, you can use a trowel or caulk gun to apply a sealant to the crack. Again, smooth the excess sealant and let it dry before completing the repair by painting over it.

Waterproof the Foundation

Once you’ve filled and sealed the crack, apply the correct waterproofing material. Typically, a waterproofing material is a vapor barrier that prevents water from damaging the part you’ve repaired. Also, it prevents water from seeping into the basement.

Fill the Hole

After repairing the foundation, you can fill the hole with the excavated soil. However, allow the repaired part to dry before painting or filling the hole.

Take Preventative Measures

Taking preventative measures is an excellent way to prevent foundation cracks. For example, ensure your house always has properly functioning gutters and downspouts. Also, avoid growing trees and shrubs close to the foundation. Other measures that may preserve the integrity of your foundation and the entire building include the following:

• Grading away from your foundation to create a gentle slope to direct rainwater away from the building.
• Installing landscaping features, such as flowers to help with soil moisture regulation.
• Monitoring soil moisture levels to avoid excessive saturation or dryness, which can make soil expand or shrink and stress the foundation walls.

While repairing a crack in your foundation may seem relatively simple, it requires skills and experience. Therefore, it’s reasonable to work with professional foundation repairers instead of attempting to do the job alone. A reputable foundation repair contractor has the necessary skills, tools, and experience to provide a lasting solution. Also, they may perform repairs from the inside and outside, depending on the crack’s severity and ease of access.

These helpful steps were brought to you by the professionals at repairfoundationwinnipeg.com