In this episode, Adam shares an experience with a DIY foundation crack repair kit. He sent a picture of a foundation wall crack that looks like a project that went…well…. really bad. Suffice it to say, leave jobs like this to the pros if you want it done correctly.
Narrator: It's time once again for the Crack Man podcast, hosted by A1 Foundation Crack Repair. I'm Darren Kincaid, and I'm here with the Crack Daddy himself, Adam Tracy. Adam has 20 years of experience in the construction industry, and as a civil engineer, is A1 Foundation's resident engineer-on-staff, solving a plethora of unique foundation problems every day. This podcast provides expert basement waterproofing, concrete repair, and preventative maintenance tips for homeowners and businesses. A1 Foundation's valuable insight will help avert the disaster of a flooded basement, health problems from water infiltration, and protect your biggest investment, your home. The topic of today's podcast: Can I use a DIY repair kit to fix my foundation wall crack?
Narrator: So Adam, you sent a picture of a foundation wall crack that looks like a project that, well, didn't go very well. What happened there?
Adam: Well, this is a classic case of a handy homeowner doing a lot of internet research, trying to pick the right stuff, and then coming a little short in the end because they're not experienced in repairing wall cracks. And this is unfortunately something that we see all the time. It doesn't mean that you ruined your foundation, but unfortunately you do make it a lot harder for the repair technician to actually complete a proper repair.
Now, there are a lot of different kits out there that all sell different secret sauces for repairs, and the reality is that most of them are very surface applied. So, you might see paints, you might see sprays from cans in the paint section of your big box retailer, you might see some cement-based materials, or you might see injection kits, like this particular photo.
And the problem with an injection kit is that it's very temperamental. The materials that you're putting in there—it's a two-part epoxy—and if that epoxy isn't the exact right temperature and the exact right mix, it's going to get all sorts of improper adhesion to the foundation.
Now, the problem with this particular one is that they actually had a structural issue here, and they just applied a surface-level kit. You can see that the foundation actually reopened in this area because it didn't have a continuous mix all the way through the foundation to actually bind the foundation back together.
This kit was probably taken in as the right idea, but the actual execution of it just didn't work well. If it had been done properly, it wouldn't have actually happened here.
These kits that get traveled around and bounced around in all different temperatures—from hot desert conditions to extremely cold winter travel in a truck—can have major issues in the field. So generally speaking, the kits can work sometimes, but not every time.
When you fast-forward a handful of years and you're going to try to sell the house, this particular issue comes up as a huge red flag for buyers and the bank because it's showing additional movement and improper repair techniques.
So, this is something that we have to get involved in. We basically have to redo and fix all the mistakes of the homeowner to get this house sold and to make sure that the foundation is safe for the next occupant.
So DIY kits, while a fun weekend venture, usually aren't going to be a long-term repair solution. Make sure you work with a foundation repair technician and specialist.
Narrator: Thanks Adam for sharing this experience of a DIY foundation crack repair kit. Suffice it to say—leave jobs like this to the pros if you want it done correctly.
Narrator: If you have a basement water problem and think you need a professional, or if you like more information on foundation crack repair and basement waterproofing topics, please visit A1FoundationCrackRepair.com, or call Adam at (866) 929-3171. Or you can email Adam at info@A1FoundationCrackRepair.com. Thanks for listening, and keep that basement dry.