How to Repair Cracks in a Concrete Wall

Cracks in concrete walls, such as those in basements, can quickly turn into larger cracks and let moisture through.

Basement walls must maintain their structure; Otherwise, even the smallest amount of water that passes through can rot building materials, create mold and mildew, and make the space uninhabitable.

Even tree and plant roots can find their way through cracks in the basement wall.

So before you finish your basement, or even for an uninhabited but dry basement, a component of your waterproofing plan should be to repair cracks in your concrete walls.

Non-structural concrete wall repairs

Cracks in concrete walls can be repaired with a paste or liquid elastomeric compound. The compound is injected into the indentation with a bottle or forced into the indentation with a spatula.

Cracks up to 1/2 inch wide and 1/4 inch deep, both internal and external, can be repaired this way. This compound can generally be painted with latex-based paint if desired.

Easy, inexpensive, and easy to do yourself, the main goal of this concrete repair is to prevent water from seeping into the basement.

This will help prevent the edges of the crack from coming loose, but it will not prevent the wall from cracking or separating.

Structural repairs of concrete walls

Concrete walls that must be structurally sound can be repaired using a low-pressure crack injection method. The goal is to rejoin the concrete, as well as to prevent water from seeping out.

What are you going to need

Equipment tools:

• 1 spatula
• waterproof gloves
• 1 brush
• 1 heat gun (optional)
• 1 nylon or wire brush
• 1 scraping device

Materials:

• 1 concrete crack filler
• 1 TSP

Instructions

#1: Clean and dry the concrete

Thoroughly clean the crack and about 1 to 2 inches beyond the crack. Use a nylon brush or metal brush, along with a TSP cleaning solution.

Cleansed. Dry the crack and surrounding area with a hot air gun.

#2: Scrape the crack

Using a scraping device, such as a screwdriver or an old nail, scrape the crack. Make sure to remove all loose debris, especially around the edges of the crack.

#3: Add crack fill

Shake or stir the crack filler. Add it to the slit. Try to press as much filler as possible into the gap with the filler bottle.

Generally, however, the filler will remain on the surface (in the next step, you will press it).

Work in small sections. Complete a section of approximately 12 to 24 inches before moving on to the next section.

#4: Press on crack filler

Put on a latex glove or a latex refill. Like pressing caulk into a crack, use your finger to press the concrete filler into the crack.

Remove the excess with your finger or with a cloth.

#5: Smooth crack filling

Use the putty knife to spread the crack filler further into the crack. Also, smooth the crack filler over the crack.

Allow crack sealer to dry for at least 24 hours before painting.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about how to repair cracks in concrete walls:

Source: QUIKRETE
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