Over a period of time, due to exposure to extreme weather conditions, foundations tend to become worn out and start cracking. Cracks can also occur due to the natural process of settling and shifting of ground every few years.
The moment you notice a crack in the foundation, it is imperative that you take measures to repair and restore them to avoid weakening of the building structure. If you are a DIY enthusiast, you can use our DIY Foundation Crack Repair Kits to fill the cracks and eliminate water seepage into the basement.
You must follow a few steps and procedures with diligence for this:
The first step is to scrape and clean any loose particles such as debris from inside the crack. You may find very small pieces of broken concrete between the cracks which must be completely removed if you want the repair to be effective.
Before injecting the resin, you must first determine the exact size of the crack as this will help you prepare the crack for resin injection.
You will find tar and other patches around hair cracks that must be removed by grinding with the diamond disc paint. The next step is to drill holes measuring two to three inches along the crack to install and seal the injection ports.
The ports have to be flushed with water with the help of a sprayer starting from the top after which you must inject the PU. Start injecting the viscous liquid from the bottom until it comes out from the next port. After sealing the port with a plastic plug that is provided with the kit, you must continue on to repeat the procedure.
For wider cracks, you must chisel around the crack to remove and clean and debris and insert a ΒΌ inches tube before sealing and installing the ports and continue with the same procedure. After the process is complete, you must decide on whether to keep all ports intact or remove some of them depending on whether you are going to cover the crack with a drywall.
If so, you can remove only the ports that are in the way of the stud and keep the rest. If not, you must remove the cement sealant within an hour taking care to scrape well after which the existing wall has to be patched and leveled before applying primer and paint to match the color of the wall.
Polyurethane injection sealers are highly popular today due to the flexibility it offers. It expands filling the crack completely before hardening thereby ensuring that there is absolutely no future water leakage.
Get your DIY foundation repair kits from us as our products are among the best and we are also associated with the Professional Registered Structural Engineer and registered with the Better Business Bureau and Foundation Concrete Association or FCA.
Here are a few aspects to remember in order to ensure enhanced safety and cleanliness of the work environment.
- Suck dust during the drilling process with the help of a shop-vac
- Protect your eyes with good quality eye glasses
- Do not forget to use plastic gloves
- Keep paper towels and rags handy
- Wear a coverall or use old clothes while working
- Use a plastic sheet or tarp to cover the floor
- Keep your work area and tools clean
- Use a recycling bin to dispose empty cartridge