After inspecting your home during your spring checkup, you may have noticed that there are a few cracks in the foundation. Because the damage does not appear to be extensive, you may decide to simply fill them in. However, there are a couple of mistakes that you should avoid when attempting to fix those cracks in your home's concrete foundation which could end up leading to more damage as well as costly repairs.
1. Using the Wrong Filler Material or Misusing the Right One to Patch the Crack
One mistake that you should avoid making when you are trying to fix concrete foundation cracks yourself is using the wrong filler material or even misusing the right one. While you may believe filling in the crack with caulk, epoxy, or even wet cement should prevent further cracking and keep water from leaking through, using the wrong material will either not work or will make the problem worse. If you fill in the cracks using caulk, for example, the material will not last because it will break down over time and may even fall out because it cannot fully adhere to the concrete.
If you decide to use epoxy or wet cement, both of which are possible materials, you have to make sure that you fill the cracks properly and fully. If not, any spaces will create pressure not only on the patch but also on the surrounding concrete. This could lead to further cracking or even crumbling of the foundation.
2. Neglecting to Address the Cause of the Damage
Even if you do fully fill in the cracks with the right material, you may still be faced with future cracking if you neglect to fix the underlying cause of the problem. In fact, you could make the problem worse.
For example, if the cracks are being caused by water leakage that is putting pressure on the foundation, you need to first address it before filling in the cracks. If you fill in the water's only escape route, the pressure will build. The water will also start to infiltrate the foundation surrounding the crack, causing the deterioration of the concrete to expand.
When you attempt to fix a crack in your foundation yourself, you run the risk of either having the patch fail or making the problem worse. Instead of trying to do the job yourself, contact a concrete contractor who offers foundation crack repair services in your area to have them inspect your foundation and offer possible solutions for repairing not only the damage but also the underlying cause.
Reach out to a foundation repair company such as Saber Concrete Repair for more information.
