Tips To Repairing Foundation Cracks

Got cracks? Every homeowner finds cracks in their basement walls and floor from time to time

. They look innocent enough, even though they're a little ugly, but actually they can cause serious damage to your house. Even a tiny hairline crack can let in enough water to cause major mold problems, not to mention big puddles in your basement after heavy rains. Even worse, they can grow and become much harder to repair (and more expensive).

The best thing to do is to get cracks sealed up as soon as possible. It's much cheaper than doing major foundation work.

If you've got a small crack, it's easy enough to fix it yourself. Head to your local hardware store and see what they've got. You can buy do-it-yourself kits with poured concrete that comes in a caulking tube. Others use polyurethane foam or epoxy. These are crack fillers that you simply inject into the crack, and they harden to become sealant. They're really effective and easy to use, but only against small cracks. If you've got a major foundation crack, you have to call a foundation repair specialist.

Once you've got your crack filler, it's time to make that crack disappear. Here are some tips on how to do it right.

1. Follow the instructions carefully on the product you buy. Sometimes you'll have to make the mix yourself. In any case, there'll be detailed instructions on how to use it, and follow them exactly.

2. Always keep yourself protected. Wear safety goggles, gloves and a mask. You're not handling any seriously toxic materials or anything, but it's a good idea to keep any particles or chemicals from getting into your eyes or lungs. It's always a good idea when doing any housework to keep yourself protected.

3. Before caulking, clear away any debris or particles from the area where you'll work. There may be bits of foundation or debris around the crack, and this should be cleared out. A wire brush works great for scraping out the area and getting all the tiny bits of dust and debris out of there.

4. Keep the area dry while you work. If there is any moisture, wait until it's dried. This is a challenge, because most of us decide to tackle our foundation problems after a heavy rain when we've got puddles in the basement, but wait until the water is gone. It's okay to use water to remove particles from the crack as you clean, but make sure the area is dry before you start again.

If the crack is more than 1/8 of an inch across, do-it-yourself products at the hardware store aren't going to get the job done. For cracks like this, you'll need to call a professional foundation repair service. They've got the tools and experience necessary for major house repair work.

by: Andrew Stratton

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