How to Repair a Concrete Wall Effectively

Learn how to repair cracks in concrete walls with this easy-to-follow guide. Find out what materials you need and how to prepare your wall for repair.

How to Repair a Concrete Wall Effectively

Concrete Repair is a sanded acrylic filler designed to match the colour and texture of the surrounding environment. It can be used on vertical or horizontal surfaces to repair holes in exterior concrete walls of your home. These holes create a point of weakness in the structure that can allow moisture to penetrate, leading to leaks, crumbling and rusting of rebar. To prevent this, patching these holes is necessary for keeping the concrete foundation wall in good condition. Moreover, a smooth surface is easier to paint for improving the appearance of the wall.

Hydraulic cement is an ideal patch for both purposes as it expands to fill cracks and holes as it dries. There are many products available that can be used to fill and seal the crack, including ready-mixed concrete. Before finishing your basement or even for an uninhabited but dry basement, one component of your waterproofing plan should be the repair of cracks in the concrete walls. Epoxy products can be used to fill cracks up to ½ inch wide, but will not adhere to wet or "green" concrete.

To begin with, use any combination of wire brush, vacuum or pressure washer to remove any oil, dirt or debris from the surface of the concrete wall and the inside of the crack. Various masonry patching products, such as hydraulic cement, do an adequate job of filling cracks in concrete walls. The next step is to install short pieces of steel into the deep holes to help bond the repair concrete to the old one. Structural repairs reattach the wall so that it is as strong or stronger than its original state.

If a repair is needed, most engineers develop a plan that can be used to obtain competitive bids from contractors. Repairing cracks in a concrete wall is a simple procedure that is usually completed in about a day. The wall must be clean because the last step of the repair will be a thin coat of stucco that will actually dress the wall.

Unfortunately, the curing process causes the concrete to shrink slightly, often resulting in hairline cracks. To prevent this from happening, use tubes of Liquid Concrete Repair (LCR), a viscous epoxy that comes in a caulk-type cartridge, and seven plastic injection ports that introduce the LCR deep into the crack. If using concrete to "patch the crack", apply masonry adhesive or some type of bonding agent to the inside surface of the crack. Then drive the concrete into the crack until it is completely filled; do not leave a depression along the surface of the patch. Use a trowel, trowel, brush or broom to even out the texture of the adjacent concrete finish.

Easy, inexpensive and simple to do, repairing cracks in concrete walls is an essential part of waterproofing your basement and keeping it structurally sound. With proper preparation and materials, you can easily fix any cracks in your concrete walls and keep them looking great for years to come.

Riley Ryan
Riley Ryan

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