Do It Yourself Foundation Repair

Due to exposure to various weather elements like the rain, snow, etc., cracks and leaks in the foundation of our homes are bound to happen. They should not be neglected, and the repair work should be undertaken immediately or else it could prove to be dangerous. If you hire a professional, he will charge you a lot, and it will also involve the presence of the workmen in the house for a number of days. Therefore, it is better to do it yourself.

First, the crack should be cleaned with a wire brush. Pass a stream of water through it, and all the loose particles present within the crack will be removed. Let it dry thoroughly. The next step is to fill up the crack with a lime-based patching material.

Make sure that you buy the one which is suitable for a concrete surface. Prior to application, the patching material should be soaked in water. As it contains limestone, it will expand while it is drying up and fill up the cracks completely. After it has dried up, apply a finishing coat of sealant to the repaired part of the foundation.

The required tools include two different types of trowels―one for pointing and the other one for plastering―a hammer, a screwdriver, a chisel, a wire-brush, and drills. The building material that is needed for this purpose are cement, sand, and mortar.

To start with, get the loose mortar in the area around the crack off with a chisel. Clean up all the dust and debris that are spread around as a result of chiseling using a wire-brush. Make a mixture of sand and cement with the proportion of one part of cement to two parts of sand. For this mortar, builder's grade sand and cement should be used in order to ensure better adhesion.

The quantity of water used to prepare this mixture should be minimal. Another thing you should keep in mind is that the cement and sand are blended well. This is the most crucial part because the success of the repair largely depends upon how well the sand and the cement are blended. Insert the mixture into the crack using the pointing trowel. Continue it along the length of the foundation where the crack has developed.

Do this task gradually and carefully. If you do it in haste, it is possible that there will be loose air gaps left in the crack. The desired result will not be achieved with air gaps. When the mortar is still wet, take a flat wooden surface and run it over the area in order to make it flat. Thus, the job of fixing the crack is complete. Now, allow it to dry for at least two days. During this time, keep sprinkling some water on it occasionally (2-3 times), so that the mortar expands and mends the crack properly. Once it is dry, you can apply paint on it.

If the foundation is quite severely damaged or complicated, it is always advisable to hire a professional.