Crack Injection - Explained

Posted by Luc Gerber on Fri, Dec 30, 2011 @ 03:45 PM

What is crack injection?

Foundation crack injection is a waterproofing and concrete repair method that is used only for poured concrete foundations and/or structures. Crack injections are accomplished using two completely different techniques involving two completely different materials: epoxy, and polyurethane (sometimes referred to as urethane).

Epoxy Crack Injection

Epoxy crack injection involves the low pressure injection of a blended epoxy resin and hardener into a foundation crack. This injection fills a crack through the entire thickness of the wall with epoxy, which hardens in the crack within 3 to 4 hours at 77°F. An epoxy crack injection is considered to be a structural repair because the strength of the epoxy bonding both sides of the crack exceeds the strength of the concrete itself.

Epoxy Crack Injection In Progress

Polyurethane Crack Injection

Polyurethane crack injection is usually, although not necessarily, accomplished at a higher injection pressure than an epoxy crack injection. Polyurethane crack injection is typically used in applications where waterstopping is the primary consideration or urgent. It is also the most common crack injection technique in use worldwide due to its versatility and its useability on actively leaking cracks. View the video below on polyurethane crack injection.

Limitations of The Use of Crack Injection

The popularity and relatively low-cost of crack injection makes crack injection an attractive basement waterproofing repair choice for many consumers; however, crack injection applies only to poured concrete foundations and structures. Concrete block foundations, because they are hollow, cannot be repaired using crack injection. Because concrete block / cinderblock is hollow, injected resins cannot be contained, containment of the injected material is essential to the success of any crack injection.

Concrete block from the 1940's Current concrete block / cinderblock