Cocrete foundation wall in my 1929 house is causes water to get into the basement during the once a year huge storm. It is a hairline vertical crack from the top of the 4′ wall to the bottom on the inside. When the ground is completely saturated, water drips out about halfway up the wall. The ground is graded away fom the house slightly, the roof overhangs by 2′ and the gutters work well. I plan to increase the grade away from the house, but would like to repair the crack also. What’s the best way to plug the crack?
Edited 12/8/2004 11:24 am ET by rich
Replies
The Thoro Co. (and others) make a product (I think Thoro's is called Hydroplug or somesuch), that you can trowel into the crack from the inside. I've used them with success many times. If it was a major leak, I would try to get it from the outside, but the way you describe it, seems like this would be my first inclination.
Also check out http://www.xypex.com.
-- J.S.
Rich,
Hilti has a two part epoxy that comes in a kit that is just for cracks in concrete walls. around my neck of the woods there is a lot of production housing and they all used cast in place concrete walls. There are actually several companies that do nothing but shoot these cracks (they're not cheap). The hilti kit is not cheap either. It's not hard to do, I myself have done at least fifteen. UI believe the hilti website has the product listed.
see ya!