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One Method Of Basement Wall Waterproofing Is To Fill Cracks With Epoxy Or Expanding Foam

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A common reason for a wet basement is cracks in the basement wall. You might actually see water leaking through the wall or just notice your basement is more humid and musty. Basement wall cracks are often easy to repair, but a contractor needs to examine them first to determine the reason for cracking in case foundation repairs are necessary too. Sometimes, filling the cracks is all that's needed to get your basement dry again. Here's how basement wall cracks are filled to waterproof your basement.

Choose The Filler

The contractor has to choose the right filler for the job. The choices include epoxy and expanding foam. Epoxy is chosen when strength is as important as waterproofing. When the epoxy dries and hardens, it becomes just as strong, or even stronger, than concrete, so it can help with foundation repairs.

The advantage of expanding foam is that it cures much more quickly than epoxy so there is no risk of it leaking out of the back of the crack. If waterproofing is all that's needed, then expanding foam might be chosen. Both fillers offer a permanent solution for basement wall waterproofing.

Prepare The Cracks

Crack fillers are injected in the cracks so the crack is repaired deep in the wall all the way to the back of the crack. To do this, the contractor has to prepare the area carefully or the filler will just flow back out the front of the crack. The crack is usually covered with epoxy or other material so it's sealed on the front. Ports are put in the crack in various locations first, and the epoxy dries around them to form a tight seal.

Inject The Filler

The crack filler is injected slowly through one port at a time, starting on the bottom. This forces the filler to the back of the crack and as the crack fills, the filler starts to come out the port above the first one. Then the contractor moves up to the next port until the entire crack is filled.

Once the crack is filled and the filler has cured, the ports are removed and the epoxy may be sanded down if you want to improve the appearance of the wall. Basement wall waterproofing by filling cracks is permanent for the cracks present, but if you don't correct the drainage problem on your property, new cracks might form. That's why it's a good idea to work with a waterproofing services contractor to get to the cause of the cracking so new cracks won't appear.


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