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Other Foundation Wall Crack Repair Methods Used in Ohio
When it comes to basement wall crack repair, there are many methods used today to try to try to stop water from leaking through the crack and into your home. Of the methods available today, Superior Basement Systems recommends Basement System's patented Flexispan Basement Wall Crack Repair System.
Call or contact us today for a free foundation wall crack repair estimate!
That being said, if other repair methods never worked, they wouldn't be used at all. Most basement wall cracks work some of the time- for some amount of time.
However, like most building practices, there is a bad way, a good way, and a best way to do it. Here are some of the repairs that we at Superior Basement Systems does not recommend.
Caulk Crack Repair
A commonly used method to repair wall cracks in Ohio is to plug the crack with a caulk seal. This kind of fix is only skin deep- water will still fill the crack behind the patch. Efflorescence- a white, powdery mineral salt deposited by the water, breaks the caulk's seal, while the pressure of the water makes the caulk peel off. This kind of repair will last between 6 months and one year.
Hydraulic Cement Crack Fillings
Homeowners and waterproofers will sometimes try to fix a basement crack by chiseling an inverted V-groove in the wall and filling the groove with hydraulic cement. This rigid cement plugs the hole, but its bond with the cement is very poor.
As the concrete wall changes with different temperatures and moisture levels, the plug will work its way loose.
Efflorescence will gather around the seal, and soon water will be able to pass through. This fix usually lasts about two years before it fails and allows water into the basement or crawl space.
Epoxy Crack Injections
Basement waterproofing contractors in Ohio have been known to use epoxy or even grout to seal a foundation wall crack. These seals are strong and very rigid. However, epoxy must be applied to only a very dry surface, and because it's very slow to cure, it may run out the other side of the wall crack before hardening.
Like hydraulic cements, epoxy plugs are rigid and inflexible. As the concrete wall expands and shrinks, this plug may fail. In some cases, it can even lead to a new crack forming near the existing crack due to the continued water pressure behind the wall. In some cases, new cracks may even form at weak points in the basement wall nearby, caused by the strain on the wall.
Fixing Wall Cracks from the Exterior
Some waterproofers will recommend excavating the entire outside of the wall where the crack appeared and installing a waterproof barrier. To do this, landscaping, sidewalks, porches, steps, gardens, and anything else outside of the foundation is removed, and mounds of dirt are piled on the lawn. Multiple layers of synthetic waterproof material are installed to prevent any further movement of the wall and to lock water out.
After this has been completed, the dirt and landscaping are returned. However, the fluffed, excavated soil will settle, and you will need to regrade it a year later or water will pool around the foundation.
Urethane Sealing
One better method of sealing off a basement wall crack and areas nearby is to seal it with urethane. As the urethane sets, it effectively walls off the crack without running out the other side. Unlike the more rigid options, urethane can flex slightly with wall movement, helping it have longer life as the basement walls expand and shrink. However, a 1/16th inch crack can expand to as much as 1/8th inch. In these cases, urethane will not be able to expand nearly enough to maintain the seal. Eventually, even this solution will fail, and the gap will begin to leak once more.
Polyurethane Polymer Sealing
One of the best methods for sealing a leaking wall crack is to seal it with a high-viscosity polyurethane polymer.
Unlike epoxy, some types of polyurethane can bond well to concrete even when it's wet.
The high viscosity of some polyurethane polymers allows it to fill even hairline cracks, creating a deep hold on the crack's edges.
Unlike urethane, a polyurethane polymer is able to expand to up to 20 times its volume. This means that the seal will not be lost as the well continues its natural shifting, expanding, and shrinking process.
Unlike the costly exterior methods, the work is uninvasive to the yard and can be completed in just a few hours.
Even polyurethane polymer sealing, however, can experience a partial failure, and over time, these seals will also occasionally show a small leak. Click for more information about Superior Basement Systems's Flexispan Wall Crack Repair System, or call us today for a free leaky basement wall crack estimate!
We service the states of Ohio, including Alliance, Ashland, Cadiz, Dover, East Liverpool, Hartville, Massillon, Millersburg, New Philadelphia, Salineville, Wooster, Yorkville.
Basement, Foundation, & Crawl Space Contractors in Eastern Ohio.
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Ashland
Hayesville
Jeromesville
Loudonville
Nankin
Perrysville
Polk
Savannah
Cities in Belmont County, OH
Bridgeport
Fairpoint
Flushing
Martins Ferry
Piedmont
Saint Clairsville
Cities in Carroll County, OH
Augusta
Carrollton
Dellroy
Leesville
Malvern
Mechanicstown
Sherrodsville
Cities in Columbiana County, OH
East Liverpool
East Rochester
Hanoverton
Homeworth
Kensington
Lisbon
North Georgetown
Salineville
Summitville
Wellsville
Cities in Coshocton County, OH
Fresno
West Lafayette
Cities in Guernsey County, OH
Kimbolton
Cities in Harrison County, OH
Bowerston
Cadiz
Deersville
Freeport
Harrisville
Hopedale
Jewett
New Athens
New Rumley
Scio
Tippecanoe
Cities in Holmes County, OH
Berlin
Big Prairie
Charm
Glenmont
Holmesville
Killbuck
Lakeville
Millersburg
Mount Hope
Nashville
Walnut Creek
Winesburg
Cities in Jefferson County, OH
Adena
Amsterdam
Bergholz
Bloomingdale
Brilliant
Dillonvale
East Springfield
Empire
Hammondsville
Irondale
Mingo Junction
Mount Pleasant
Piney Fork
Rayland
Richmond
Smithfield
Steubenville
Stratton
Tiltonsville
Toronto
Wolf Run
Yorkville
Cities in Mahoning County, OH
Beloit
Sebring
Cities in Stark County, OH
Alliance
Beach City
Brewster
Canal Fulton
Canton
East Canton
East Sparta
Greentown
Hartville
Limaville
Louisville
Magnolia
Massillon
Maximo
Middlebranch
Minerva
Navarre
North Canton
North Lawrence
Paris
Robertsville
Uniontown
Waynesburg
Wilmot
Cities in Summit County, OH
Clinton
Cities in Tuscarawas County, OH
Baltic
Bolivar
Dennison
Dover
Dundee
Gnadenhutten
Midvale
Mineral City
New Philadelphia
Newcomerstown
Port Washington
Sandyville
Somerdale
Stillwater
Stone Creek
Strasburg
Sugarcreek
Tuscarawas
Uhrichsville
Zoar
Cities in Wayne County, OH
Apple Creek
Burbank
Creston
Dalton
Doylestown
Fredericksburg
Kidron
Marshallville
Mount Eaton
Orrville
Rittman
Shreve
Smithville
Sterling
West Salem
Wooster
Cities in Hancock County, WV
New Manchester
Please call us at: 1-888-592-7304
Recent Testimonials
"I was impressed with the professionalism of everyone I dealt with."
Testimonial by Karol L. from Dover, OH
"It's so wonderful to not have to worry about water in the basement anymore. We've had several bad storms since installation, and not one problem!"
Testimonial by Jeff and Janet F. from Sherrodsville, OH
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©2012 Superior Basement Systems
6628 Roy Andrews Road NW
New Philadelphia, OH 44663