When a homeowner considers a waterproof basement, the immediate concern is the high cost it often brings. Often, a crack in the basement wall is something that the homeowner can easily notice, but it is delayed until it becomes a serious problem. Fortunately, low-cost and efficient solutions can be used to repair leaks and structural cracks in low-cost foundations - low pressure injection. This process has become the most practical concrete crack repair solution for basement waterproofing and foundation repair contractors in the United States and Canada. However, for a homeowner unfamiliar with crack injection, such a simple and effective process may sound incredibly good.
The idea of crack injection is to inject a liquid polymer [usually a two-component polyurethane or epoxy] into the crack. This process allows the material to pass through the voids in the foundation, effectively filling the cracks upon curing. Prior to injection, the crack is covered with a sealant, preferably an epoxy adhesive, to ensure that the injected material does not leak out of the front of the crack.
The crack injection process provides the homeowner with an affordable solution that solves a problem that can be lingering if not properly addressed. For example, in the past few years, the most common remedy for leaking cracks was to install an internal drainage system or to dig at home - both of which required a lot of time and labor, resulting in high cost to the homeowner. Crack injection is not only more cost effective, but it is also an effective repair solution because it actually solves the void area that makes up the crack, unlike drain tiles that only collect water leaks and prevent cracks from remaining open.
One of the most common problems is related to injectable materials - which one is more suitable for basic crack repair? Both polyurethane and epoxy work well, but there are some specific parameters, one of which is preferred over the other.
Most cracks are formed by shrinkage - usually, this is not a problem, but a question of when the base crack begins to leak water. I always recommend polyurethane when the cracks seem to be structurally unrelated. Due to contact with water, the polyurethane can expand to 6 to 30 times its original volume [expansion rate depends on the type of manufacturer and polyurethane]. The result of the expansion makes the injection process more user friendly for the applicator - as the urethane spreads, the foam essentially fills any void areas within the foundation. For epoxy resins, it usually requires more material than urethane to repair the same crack because the epoxy does not have the same expansion capacity.
The use of epoxy resins is necessary for structurally related cracks in the foundation. As the epoxy is injected, the repaired crack becomes stronger than the surrounding area - the added strength of the epoxy becomes critical to this repair. Additional reinforcement products may be required prior to the severity of the structural problem to ensure that further movement or settling does not create additional cracks around the repaired crack.
Applicators should consult a reliable supplier before using the crack injection for basic repair to ensure proper material curing time and proper use of all components. For example, when purchasing an epoxy or polyurethane component, the viscosity will determine the size of the mixing nozzle and is best suited for material injection. The ability of the material to react is critical - Does the supplier guarantee that the material meets the manufacturer's specifications? Suppliers [distributors or manufacturers] should be readily available and honest to ensure that contractors best serve their customers.
For more than 20 years, waterproofing and foundation repair professionals have been using crack injections. It has proven to provide homeowners with an efficient, low-cost solution while providing contractors with viable business activities. Not everything in life is too good to be true.
Orignal From: Basement wall crack repair - Seal and fill the base gap with epoxy or polyurethane injection
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