Repair cracks in concrete walls to keep out the elements.
As concrete walls cure and your house settles, cracks can appear in the concrete. Unless the cracks are large or reappear after you've patched them, there isn't a structural problem. However, cracks in your concrete basement wall aren't just an aesthetic issue. Cracks let in insects, water and radon. Repairing the cracks keeps out the elements and restores the look of your walls. A liquid concrete repair kit allows you to patch over the surface of the crack and inject epoxy into the crack itself, completely filling it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Feel the crack to see if the surrounding wall is damp. If it is, direct a hair dryer at the area until it dries. Wait 15 minutes to see if the wall remains dry. If it is still dry, continue. If the wall is damp, let it dry naturally and check again in a few hours.
2. Rub a wire brush over the crack to remove loose concrete. Clean the crack and the surrounding area with a shop vacuum to remove all debris.
3. Drive finishing nails halfway into the crack, every 12 inches along the length of the crack.
4. Mix the epoxy crack sealer included in the liquid concrete repair kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mix the two ingredients on a piece of scrap wood, using a putty knife.
5. Spread the epoxy on the flat, round part of the plastic injection ports included in the liquid concrete repair kit. Slip the ports over the finishing nails in the crack, pressing the flat, round part of the port against the wall.
6. Spread the epoxy sealer to the surface of the crack with a putty knife. Mix an additional batch of epoxy sealer, if necessary.
7. Insert the liquid concrete repair cartridge, included in the liquid concrete repair kit, into your caulk gun. Place the tip of the caulk gun over the lowest plastic injection port, and squeeze the caulk gun's trigger until the repair compound begins to ooze out of the next highest injection port. Plug the first injection port with one of the plastic plugs included in the liquid concrete repair kit.
8. Continue injecting liquid concrete repair epoxy into the injection ports, working your way up the wall. Plug the final injection port when it's no longer possible to inject any more epoxy into the wall.
9. Let the repair compound dry and cure for five days. Cut off the plastic ports sticking out of the wall with a hacksaw. Mix a small batch of epoxy crack sealer and spread it over the remaining plastic.
Tags: concrete repair, liquid concrete, liquid concrete repair, included liquid, included liquid concrete, injection port, epoxy into