Look up at the ceiling over your head, and also think about the roof above it. You are lucky to have that shelter. Of course, you worked hard to afford it, but that point aside — someone else worked really hard to build it. Our point here is that without construction workers and contractors, we would not have homes in which to live. We all value our homes, and of course, we value the other buildings we spend time in, too. Everyone has a different way of showing their appreciation for this work. Our way is to write about construction on this blog. Your way could be reading about construction on this same blog!
Cracks are fairly common in basement foundations, but that doesn't mean you should ignore them. Cracks need to be filled, even if they aren't signs of structural damage. Here's why you should fill cracks and how basement crack repair is done.
Cracks Let In Bugs And Water
Basement cracks can appear anywhere along the wall, floor, or where the wall and floor meet. Some are signs of structural problems that require an evaluation from a foundation contractor. Others happen due to shifting of the soil or settling and are not too serious. However, all cracks should be filled, if for no other reason than to keep out bugs and water.
Since subterranean termites move through the soil, they can find the crack in a basement wall and move through it to get inside your home. Water can get through cracks due to the hydrostatic pressure of the water in the soil. That means the cracks could give you problems with a wet basement until they are filled and sealed.
Cracks Can Be Filled And Sealed With Epoxy
You might do basement crack repair yourself, but if you don't feel competent enough to do it, call a basement contractor for help. It's probably a good idea to call a contractor anyway just to examine the crack or cracks to make sure they aren't signs of foundation problems that need to be repaired.
Basement crack repair is done by filling the crack with hydraulic cement or epoxy. Epoxy is a popular choice because it's flexible and it will move slightly with the concrete. It's also durable and will seal the crack to stabilize it and keep out water and insects.
The epoxy is injected into the crack so it goes in deep. The contractor wants to fill the crack completely, all the way to the back and the entire length of the crack. This involves making several injections. Once the crack is full of epoxy, cement may be used to cover the surface of the crack to hold the epoxy in place while it cures.
If you're concerned about the appearance of the repair job, the cement over the crack can be sanded so it's smooth and able to be painted over to make it nearly invisible.
When you hire a contractor to do basement crack repair, they'll fill all the cracks they see. However, even if you just have a single crack, it should be repaired. The epoxy should last a long time so the crack won't open up again, but new cracks could possibly develop over time.
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