How To Fix Cracks In Basement Wall? [A Step By Step Guide

Foundation or basement walls carry the weight of your house and resist moisture that is surrounding it. It repels water content so that you get to live in an environment that is free from disease-carrying particles. No matter the quality of material or the expertise of contractors, getting cracks in these walls is a common thing.

However, it is not as simple and straightforward to fix these fissures. There are a number of variables that are related to your wall. You need to be sure about them before starting fixing.

The major dynamics of a basement wall crack involve;

Types Of Cracks
Types Of Foundations
Possible Ways To Fix The Cracks

In some cases, cracks are not even clearly visible but they can be observed and evaluated through weight distribution throughout the structure.

Causes Of Basement Wall Cracks & Fissures

There are three major types of cracks and fissures in basement walls;

Shrinkage – happens when a newly built foundation is dried too soon and light cracks become visible.
Settling – this happens because the ground was not stable when foundations were built on it. In their benign form, they are harmless but if the ground continues to compress, they could become wide and prominent.
Movement – the most common cause of cracks. This happens when the ground around moves.

A Note

Before you move on to repair the foundational cracks in the basement walls, make sure it is dry. Even if it is only a little damp, dry it first before you commence your operation.
You could have to wait for a little more if the dampness comes back after a while. It means there is still leakage in the lines and you have to wait for it to be dried completely.

Ultimate Ways To Fix Cracks In Basement Wall

Let’s jump into how to fix cracks in basement wall:

Epoxy Injection System

The epoxy injection system is the best kit available in the market that can help you in repairing cracks of the basement and foundational walls. It has quick-dry action with strong adhesive material that allows it to stitch the crack. There are many brands that offer this product so check with your local hardware store and get the best one. If you are wondering how much can it handle, it can fill over 7 feet long cracks with ease.

Scrub

Use a wire brush and clean the crack area thoroughly. Make sure there are no remnants of loose concrete, filler, or paint because it can compromise the integrity and grip of the epoxy. After you are done scrubbing, give it a clean blow with a shop vacuum.

Mark Aligning Points

When the time comes to start filling the crack, you need to keep the traction of a jet of epoxy before it settles permanently. To do this, you can make a trail using nails. Hammer them at 12 inches apart and they will make a channel that will help you in driving the epoxy system through the crack.

Make Two-Part Epoxy Sealer

The epoxy system package consists of two containers. To make an effective crack sealer, mix equal parts from both containers A and B. To avoid contamination, use different tools to scoop them out. Get a tray, or a scrap board, and mix the two chemicals with a putty knife. In the end, you will have a consistent gray substance.

Sealer & Base

Avoiding ports of the plastic injections, spread the sealer thinly onto the bases. Then, carefully slide the port over the alignment nails for traction. When you are done with one port, move on to the next one until you are done.

Apply Epoxy Sealer

Make a big batch of epoxy sealers and apply them to the crack. Keep in mind that the spread should be 1/8 inch thick and over one inch through the crack on both sides. Use a spirit-dipped brush for smoothening of the sealer. If you can access the other side of the wall, check if the crack has gone through it or not. If it has, apply sealer too. Give six to ten hours to dry the sealer before epoxy injection.

LCR Epoxy

Using a plunger, mix the LCR Epoxy thoroughly and apply it to the crack by starting at the lowest injection port. It takes around five days to cure the LCR Epoxy before you cut the necks of the port with a blade saw or hacksaw. If there are still small fissures in the seal, apply a sealer to fill them up.