A basement wall provides support to the entire structure of your building. And when the wall is in shape, it protects the building from weather damage. These damages include water leaks and the penetration or growth of destructive elements like mold and mildew. But still, regardless of how strong your wall is, it’s common for it to crack.
Cracks can be because of unstable soils or poor drainage. Cracks can also indicate severe or minor damage. However, whether they highlight serious issues or not, you want prompt basement wall crack repair from a reliable and highly experienced technician to help curb water seepage that can destroy your furniture, leading to unbearable musty smells. And to perfectly repair your wall cracks, here are some of the available methods to choose from:
Epoxy Sealing
Whether the cracks result from poor drainage or unstable soils, epoxy sealing is better than polyurethane sealants. Unlike sealants, epoxy bonds most wall materials back together. It could be bricks or concrete. And when this happens, the wall’s foundation gets back to its structural integrity and can withstand different weather conditions, including heavy downpours or wind throws. Epoxy also prevents the growth and development of mold and mildew by creating a waterproof that limits moisture from settling, which can cause dampness that allows these elements to grow and thrive.
At the same time, epoxy discourages the entrance of chemicals, insects, and debris through the cracks, which will likely widen them and cause severe structural damage. However, consider how wide, long, and more profound the cracks are for epoxy sealing to work perfectly. Epoxy sealing is also done differently depending on the cracks and materials used to build the wall. And also, the type of crack determines how you will seal them.
How to Apply Epoxy
Because the process depends on how wide, long, and plunging the cracks are, their type determines their sealing. For example, unlike other cracks, horizontal ones are more serious. And they are often due to unstable soil problems caused by water pressure building against your basement wall. When this happens, the wall starts to bow inwards, which causes water leakage and seepage into the basement. And to seal horizontal cracks, the process begins at their widest points.
In these areas, you begin by injecting the epoxy, then waiting for a few minutes for it to penetrate inside the cracks’ deepest ends. Again, you inject epoxy for a second time until it flows from the cracks. When this happens, remove the cartridge. Next, inject more epoxy into each crack and allow it to harden. Ensure the epoxy is also flowing efficiently without leaving voids on the wall. Repeat this until the epoxy dries. When done, remove the cartridge or any equipment you’re using to apply the epoxy and allow it to dry to seal the cracks.
The Benefits of Epoxy Sealing
When correctly done, epoxy sealing is the best method for fixing basement wall cracks for two fundamental reasons. First, it’s non-invasive; second, it’s highly reliable. Due to its non-invasive advantage, epoxy doesn’t require contractors or repair technicians to excavate your wall to repair the cracks. This way, it saves you money and time and won’t adversely affect the structural foundation of your building.
On the other hand, its reliability advantage is that epoxy is strong and can easily withstand harsh weather conditions. For instance, when correctly applied, it bonds cracks firmly back together with the wall materials. As a result, there won’t be cases of water seepage or leaks regardless of the amount of moisture within the surroundings.
Polyurethane Sealing
Besides epoxy, polyurethane is the second option for fixing basement wall cracks, especially those that leak or cause water seepage. Due to the leaks, it’s easy to mix polyurethane with water to form a gel that expands and chokes them off. When this happens, the gel also dries up and seals the cracks. Also, polyurethane is highly viscous, meaning it can quickly fill and fix even the thinnest cracks. More importantly, polyurethane expands, forcing it to penetrate the deepest ends of the cracks, limiting moisture penetration and mold growth.
Polyurethane also has foam that creates strong bonds with most wall materials, including concrete. Due to this strong bond, polyurethane withstands the hydrostatic pressure that sometimes develops from heavy downpours or water from high-level surfaces like tanks. As a result, you prevent the wall from the adverse effects of this pressure, which can destroy its structural foundation.