Repairing Cracks In Concrete Walls

As a homeowner, there are some things that you can let go for some time and then there are others that demand immediate attention. One of the things that you’ll want to fix right away is anything that has something to do with the concrete in your home because left with a crack or other kind of fissure, concrete can cause some severe moisture related and even structural, problems.

There are certain things that you will need regardless of the location of the fix that you are attempting. Some of the equipment necessary includes a concrete bonding adhesive and some kind of wooden form to hold the concrete in place while it dries. You’ll also need, among other things, a spray bottle a wire brush and some manner of edging tool.

One of the first things that you’ve got to remember is that no matter what kind of job you are doing the preparation work is essential. You need to take a stone chisel or some kind of wire brush and remove all the loose concrete first. There’s no point in even attempting to place the new concrete before this step since it won’t have a solid footing until all the old pieces have been removed.

You’ll need to make the area larger. That’s right. If you’re working with a crack in the concrete you’re going to need to make the crack bigger and more defined so that the new patching material will have a better grip. Once you’ve got the space big enough, it’s a good idea to clean the area with some kind of water pressure. Here a spray nozzle is the best bet. As a final precaution, you’ll want to vacuum any loose particles away with a shop vac.

For a small crack you really only need to use a pourable grout. Often, the homeowner goes a little overboard, although their intentions are good and they buy too much material. Remember to carefully decide what you need and then buy just enough and never too much.

For a larger crack however, you’ll likely need to use a technique called undercutting where the crack is chiseled out so that it is larger underneath. This prevents the patching compound from being forced out during the bad weather. Additionally, an epoxy based cement is always recommended for the repair. Don’t forget, it is necessary to make sure that the crack is wider below the surface than at the surface.

Mix the patching agent as directed and this usually means that you should use a combination of water and concrete mix. The tool that gives the best results is the steel trowel and you should make sure to hold it flat and use it with a swirling motion.

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