Basements, Attics and Crawl Spaces - fixing crack in basement wall
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funnyguyMI
03-21-05, 02:54 PM
Hey all. I'm starting to work on finishing my basement, and one of the first things I need to do is fix a small crack in one of the walls. I live in a townhouse condo that was built a little over a year ago. It's not a very large crack, but I did see some moisture coming in last fall.
So far, I have found two ways to fix this. There was a DriLok crack repair product at Lowes, and I also found a "crack repair kit" online:
http://www.leakybasementcrackrepairkit.com/index.html
The repair kit sounds like a good idea since it ideally fills up the crack instead of just covering it up. Also, having a more flexible filler in there would be ideal for me since my home is still settling. The downside is it's $70, and I don't know if it will live up to the claims on the web site. The only problem I have with the DriLok product is that I don't think I would be able to get it very far into the crack. The crack is at most 1/16" at the very top and tapers off to almost nothing at the bottom.
I was just wondering if anyone else knew of any good products or solutions to fill in a small crack like I have (hopefully relatively cheaply). Has anyone else used or heard of this "Crack Seal" repair kit before?
Thanks for any help :)
-Mike
So far, I have found two ways to fix this. There was a DriLok crack repair product at Lowes, and I also found a "crack repair kit" online:
http://www.leakybasementcrackrepairkit.com/index.html
The repair kit sounds like a good idea since it ideally fills up the crack instead of just covering it up. Also, having a more flexible filler in there would be ideal for me since my home is still settling. The downside is it's $70, and I don't know if it will live up to the claims on the web site. The only problem I have with the DriLok product is that I don't think I would be able to get it very far into the crack. The crack is at most 1/16" at the very top and tapers off to almost nothing at the bottom.
I was just wondering if anyone else knew of any good products or solutions to fill in a small crack like I have (hopefully relatively cheaply). Has anyone else used or heard of this "Crack Seal" repair kit before?
Thanks for any help :)
-Mike
majakdragon
03-23-05, 10:16 AM
Hi funnyguyMI,
Welcome to the DIY Forums.
Since your Condo is just NEW it may still be under warranty. This warranty would cover these cracks. If the cracks are over 1/8" wide they fall into this catagory and should be repaired without cost. I would check into this option before attempting any repair that may cause the warranty to be voided. Most of these warranties cover a 10 year STRUCTURAL coverage.
Good luck and reply back if you have further questions.
Welcome to the DIY Forums.
Since your Condo is just NEW it may still be under warranty. This warranty would cover these cracks. If the cracks are over 1/8" wide they fall into this catagory and should be repaired without cost. I would check into this option before attempting any repair that may cause the warranty to be voided. Most of these warranties cover a 10 year STRUCTURAL coverage.
Good luck and reply back if you have further questions.
funnyguyMI
03-24-05, 07:35 AM
Hey Majakdragon, thanks for replying.
I looked through my warranty information when I first found the crack, and it says that basement cracks are a normal, and wouldn't be covered unless they were a structural hazzard. Since the crack is so small (less than 1/8" wide), I didn't think they would consider it a structural problem. I will contact the builder and double check this before proceeding though.
In case I do need to fix the crack, does anyone have any suggestions? Should I just cover it with the DriLok crack repair stuff and call it good?
I looked through my warranty information when I first found the crack, and it says that basement cracks are a normal, and wouldn't be covered unless they were a structural hazzard. Since the crack is so small (less than 1/8" wide), I didn't think they would consider it a structural problem. I will contact the builder and double check this before proceeding though.
In case I do need to fix the crack, does anyone have any suggestions? Should I just cover it with the DriLok crack repair stuff and call it good?
Doug Aleshire
03-24-05, 08:50 AM
funnyguyMI,
If that is the case and you are intending to finish your basement, I would caution doing a "cheap" fix versus one that would not meet your expectations.
It would be a shame to do something with a product that may do what it says but for whatever reason, the problem reoccurs after investing so much time and money into your project.
It may be wise to go with an epoxy injection that does provide a guarantee. Hire a professional to get it done right. True, more money but what is worse, spending little now and have to repair/replace what you have done or spend more now to do it the right way and enjoy the finished project without worry?
Just a thought
If that is the case and you are intending to finish your basement, I would caution doing a "cheap" fix versus one that would not meet your expectations.
It would be a shame to do something with a product that may do what it says but for whatever reason, the problem reoccurs after investing so much time and money into your project.
It may be wise to go with an epoxy injection that does provide a guarantee. Hire a professional to get it done right. True, more money but what is worse, spending little now and have to repair/replace what you have done or spend more now to do it the right way and enjoy the finished project without worry?
Just a thought