Injection Polyurethane - The Low Cost Way to Stop Basement Leaks

Posted by Luc Gerber on Fri, Jan 06, 2012 @ 09:01 AM

The injection of polyurethane, sometimes referred to as urethane, is an outstanding waterstopping repair method for foundation cracks and various other basement leaks.

Polyurethane injection is used extensively for waterstopping in underground mining applications, subway tunnels, and other underground structures. While the injection of polyurethane is only suitable for poured concrete leak repairs, its versatility has made it the number one waterstopping method worldwide.

Typical Applications of Polyurethane Injection

The images below show a few of the most typical residential applications for the injection of polyurethane.

Injection Polyurethane Injection of Polyurethane for Pre existing Crack Repair Injection of Polyurethane to Repair Leaking Tie rod Hole

These images show the injection of polyurethane for concrete crack repair, tie-rod hole waterproofing and the repair of a leaking basement crack that someone tried to repair solely by using hydraulic cement.

One of the greatest advantages of injecting polyurethane is the expansive qualities of the polyurethane resin. In polyurethane injections, the polyurethane resin is injected under pressure as a fluid; however, it chemically expands within just a few minutes. These expansive qualities of the polyurethane are highly desirable because the force of the chemical expansion is significant and therefore the polyurethane will fill any void that it can get into.

Injection polyurethane can be dispensed at low pressure. When you purchase a do-it-yourself polyurethane injection kit you are purchasing a low pressure system. In the images above you will notice the presence of white injection packers as well as a hydraulic hose coupled to an injection packer. The use of injection packers is common among waterproofing contractors; their use is necessary because professional injections of polyurethane are accomplished at high pressures to ensure that polyurethane will penetrate a crack completely.