Hi! Can anyone tell me the best way to patch a vertical crack in a foundation? I cleaned the crack with a wire brush but have read several different ways to patch. What is the right / best thing to do here? This crack is by the garage so no crawl space/basement in this area.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Greta Girl
Dehumidification is listed as a selling point for HPWHs, but are they actually effective at lowering humidity?
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
That's more than just a crack. Is there any evidence inside of other damages? Where are you located? Do you have expansive soil in you neighborhood?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Edited 5/12/2009 6:20 pm ET by FastEddie
My house is just outside Portland, Oregon, built in 1988. In my neighborhood, we have clay soil and very soggy yards all winter/spring.There are some cracks in the concrete garage floor but just lines not anything chunk or uneven. Might be more cracks now than a few years ago though.I just walked the perimeter of the house and there is only one other crack. It is in the foundation about 13 ft down on the same side of the house as the one shown in my first posting. Looks like someone patched it once (see added image). These were existing when we bought the house 6 years ago (I just looked in the inspector report, it says less than 3/8").
Yeah, epoxy injection is the way to go. There's a company out here called Crack-X (or use to be anyways) that repairs cracks just like that. They take care of hair-line up to and beyond what you've got. Check your local listings for foundation repair or foundation 'welding'.
that may be a cold joint...
add that to mix...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
The house has a crawl space and is on a slight gradual grade running west to east (from high to low). Previous owners had some drainage put in the crawl space but we have realized something more needs to be done. We are planning to put in a french drain on the west side of the yard and landscaping to make sure there is a better slope away from the house.As far as doors lining up, I have not noticed but will pay attention to that now.
That one? Use an epoxy injection. The epoxy comes in twin tubes that mix using a fancy 6 to 8 inch nozzle. The twin tubes came either in a single caulking tube size (both are within the same space taken by the caulking tube) or double requiring a special twin tubed caulking gun (~$125). Simpson makes the stuff. Only found at higher compentency lumber/building stores. Requires the use of epoxied on injection ports, the crack covered (from the outside) with hydralic ceement/tape and some skill.
You'll need to blow out the crack with high pressure air first.
Considr whether to test a bit before sinking work and money in a crack - rough and ready - epoxy a microscope slide over the crack and wait 6 months to see if it breaks.
If the foundation is still moving, filling the crack won't do much.
Make sure the grading all slopes away from the house for at least 6-10 feet, and that yo have downspout extensions that long as well.
"Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman
http://rjw-progressive.blogspot.com/
The slide test is a great idea. Thank you! We are going to put in some extra drainage around the perimeter this summer. Hopefully that will help. There are some definite water issues in the area we live. Best,
Greta Girl
Entirely possible the foundation cracked in the the quake of 1993. (Scotts Mills quake, 5.7 Richter scale.). Some areas of Portland had a wave action occur and other areas didn't. My foundation cracked (south of Portland 40 miles ) and I have the same soils type you do. Hasn't moved since.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Drainage is good, but getting water away from the house with grading & downspouts is cheaper and better.
The typical downspout drains about 100-150 gallons per inch of rain. 150 gallons equals about 5 trashcans full of water.
Dump it all in a few concentrated spots and theres some significant water and effects
"Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurmanhttp://rjw-progressive.blogspot.com/
Oh, yes, I forgot to say that our downspouts all drain out the the curb. I also checked to make sure all were connected by sticking a hose in each one and checking to see if water was flowing out at the curb.
consider a swale or curtain drain around the house at least eight feet away from the foundation on the side that slopes toward the house. no fix will last unless you improve grade. epoxy all the way after fix. i like your siding, by the way.
"i like your siding, by the way."
Is that a pick-up line we can use with the home show models? ;0)
I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits
I lived in the Puget Sound area and we had a similar crack. Upon investigation and an earthquake another appeared on an adjacent wall and they did connect.
Is your home on level or on grade? Do all doors and windows and cabinets align and operate properly?
If you think there may be related troubles check with an engineer, especially if you plan to sell. Inspectors will see it and question and that would not be a good time to deal with it.
fyi: I am just a diy'er and have never been in the trades.
I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits
I would suggest excavating to see how far those foundation cracks run. They may even be present in the footings.
Secondly...are they still moving? As suggested already.
Is your house "on slab" or with a crawlspace?
Concrete epoxies are available from Sika and Abatron as well as others. Google will get you there. Commercial/Industrial Construction supply house keep such materials and you should expect to see $$$ attached to those quality products. Read the literature thoroughly, as well as the actual instruction sheets prior to purchasing.
Last year I was involved with a basement pour that went poorly and the resulting epoxy repair materials and labor costs were $41,000. Sika products were used as per the engineer's specs and direction. No leaks a year later.
...........Iron Helix
I would drill and epoxy some all-thread, then bolt a metal strap across the crack.
"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
bakersfieldremodel.com
One skinny simpson strap is not going to restrain a concrete foundation."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
use a fat one then doofus"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
bakersfieldremodel.com
That's the pick-up line!
use a fat one duffus????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Ha ha, you misspelt doofus. Marroon. "Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
WTB you were sitting on yur duff when ya read that....
gheeeeeze... gotta explain everything around here....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Wife says I usually sit on my brain."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
WOW!!!!
duffus cover several bases....
gotta love it...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
...something like this
View Image
"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
bakersfieldremodel.com
Lipstick on a pig, there... Compare that to standard bolting requirements for tying a new foundation into existing - which is basically what you're doing.-t
why, thank you!View Image"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
bakersfieldremodel.com
Which crack were you trying to bridge and reinforce the wall. It looks like an exercise in futility.
Jim
Which crack were you trying to bridge and reinforce the wall. It looks like an exercise in futility.
Well, yes, by golly it sure does, thank you for that insight. But as it turns out, I wasn't trying to bridge any crack nor reinforce any wall, I was just actually enjoying my walk by the beach on Sunday, and happened to snap a picture showing a steel strap bolted to a concrete retaining wall. (The O.P., however, had a vertical crack to bridge, for which a horizontal strap would be in order.)
So, a little epoxy in the crack would probably be stronger than a steel strap?
"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
bakersfieldremodel.com
Edited 5/19/2009 11:00 am by Huck