Foundation Crack Repairs

Foundation cracks

Fissure dans un mur de béton réparée avec une membrane élastique verte

What causes cracks in foundations?

Cracks present in foundations or basement floors are sometimes linked to completely natural phenomena. Concrete is not elastic and undergoes shrinkage which can create small cracks that are often harmless. However, you should never ignore foundation problems, as they can hide more important issues such as structural cracks.

It is essential to control their evolution and ensure proper foundation crack repairs when needed to avoid water infiltration problems. These repairs are even more essential if your foundation walls are not protected by an effective waterproofing process.

Fixation de réparation de fondation de béton

The other most frequent causes of cracks in foundations:

Movement and swelling of the soil, especially in clay soil
Uplift of foundations due to freezing
Tree roots that are located too close to the foundation or basement walls
Poorly constructed foundations
Poor balancing of the weight distribution of the house during construction
Problems associated with pyrite in the backfill or concrete of the foundation walls and floors
A physical shock on the house or excavation work carried out in an unsafe manner

Trois étapes du procédé de réparation de fondation

When we don’t see them, what are the signs of possible cracking in foundations?

Apart from visible foundation cracks, there are many symptoms that indicate that your home does not have effective protection against external waterflow. These signs should be taken seriously and addressed immediately, since neglecting them could inflict serious damage on your home and generate significant financial costs.

Our specialists at Groupe Durasec can quickly analyze and detect problems in order to carry out rapid and meticulous foundation crack repairs.

Partie d'une fondation réparée avec une membrane étanche

The most common signs :

An excessive degree of ambient humidity in the basement
Signs of moisture on the walls
Excessive condensation on windows and piping
Water accumulation on the floors
Musty, mouldy, or bad odors and fumes
Softened plaster
Crumbling concrete or the formation of salt deposits on concrete surfaces
The formation of black spots and mould on walls, fabrics, or woodwork
Rotting floors

If you notice that some of these symptoms appear in your basement or crawl space, you are most likely dealing with cracks in your foundation or you don’t have adequate waterproofing of your foundation walls. This is why it is necessary to contact the experts at Groupe Durasec for specialized foundation crack repair services.

Réparation d'un coin de fondation de maison

Before taking action

Cracks in your foundation can occur for many reasons and repairing them can be a complex undertaking. Whether it occurred as a result of ground movement or infiltration, you should seek the advice of a specialist before undertaking any repair work.

We are accredited as a Réno-Maître, foundation repair contractor and foundation waterproofing specialists. Don’t hesitate to ask for our expertise today! We can identify the causes of your foundation problems and find appropriate solutions.

Réparation d'une fondation de béton à l'aide d'une membrane

We can propose two solutions when you are dealing with foundation crack issues

In order to prevent the problem from arising again, you can proceed to:

Injecting polyurethane foam through the interior of the cracks with the help of injection ports. This is the least expensive method and the injection is guaranteed for a period of 5 years.
Spraying of cracks from the outside including excavation. We exclusively repair foundation cracks by applying the Rub-R-Wall waterproofing membrane. This revolutionary product offers the following advantages:
- It dries quickly and doesn’t deteriorate over time
- It’s ecological and doesn’t give off toxic products
- It can be installed during any season, starting at 4°C
- It has incomparable elasticity, even at low temperatures (as low as -26°C)
- It repairs and stems foundation cracks up to 3.2 mm (1/8 in) wide
- Any repair carried out is guaranteed for 25 years

Rebuilding the foundation wall footing

It’s possible that during the initial excavation, the depth wasn’t respected, additional material was added to the bottom of the excavation and that it didn’t have the bearing capacity to support the weight of the footing and the foundation wall. With a void underneath, the footing can then crack, creating a space between the wall and the footing. It will then be necessary to carry out repairs.

It’s also possible that the footing was poured onto frozen ground, causing a similar result. In this situation, the footing sags and cracks when thawing.

In both cases, it’s critical to rectify the situation since the sagging footing will lead to cracking in the foundation walls and rigid sidings, such as brick or stone.

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