DIY Repairs: Should You Fix That Crack in Your Basement Wall Yourself?

The straight-forward answer to that question is no, you shouldn’t fix that crack yourself. I mean you can try to, but it will most likely cost you much more in the long run. 

You can find sealants at any home improvement store near you to patch it, but the problem with these DIY crack-fillers is that they will eventually fail if your foundation or walls continue to move (and most do). The sealant will inevitably crack or lose its bond with the concrete and then your wall will be leaking again before you know it. The sealant must be flexible enough to move with the wall, and must never crack or dry out. 

 So why do cracks happen in the first place? Usually because your foundation is moving:

1. Expansive Soils

This type of soil contains swelling clay minerals that absorb water. So basically, the soil expands when it comes into contact with water. The more they absorb, the bigger they get. This becomes a problem when the soil surrounding your basement begins pushing against the walls, moving them inward and causing bowing and cracks. 

2. Hydrostatic Pressure 

This is when underground water applies inward force against your wall. It can also thrust water through the cracks and holes in your concrete, creating a wet basement. And no one likes a wet basement. 

3. Concrete Shrinkage 

When concrete cures, unfortunately it naturally shrinks, which causes small cracks to form. These can worsen over time, though. 

4. Foundation Settlement 

This also occurs naturally over time due to weathering as a home sinks further into the ground. If your foundation settles on weaker soil though, this can definitely lead to serious cracks in your walls —jeopardizing the structural integrity of your home. Protect your homes’ integrity! 

5. Sagging Crawl Space

This problem can cause cracks on the upper levels of your home. This happens when the wood rots, becomes moldy, and can no longer support the weight above because it is too weak. This will also cause the floor above to sag and become bouncy. Bouncy floors are meant for bounce houses, NOT your house. 

These problems also take the form of horizontal or stair-step cracking along the foundation wall, diagonal cracks in the corners, inward bulges, and walls leaning in at the top or bottom. This could mean you need foundation repair too. 

We get a lot of customers who've tried fixing their cracks themselves or hired a cheap contractor to do it, and the crack just ended up leaking again months or years later—taking more money out of their wallets and causing even more damage. For us, it's a very quick and easy problem to fix, though. 

At HomeSpec we will repair your foundation cracks with a powerful polyurethane sealant that has all the componants neccessary to keep your basement dry—it's flexible enough to move with your foundation, and it never cracks or dries out.

There are so many evil forces actively threatening your home. But don't be scared! There’s good news: HomeSpec can fix (and prevent) every single one of these problems for you before they get too costly. 

Click here to schedule your FREE estimate!