Are you bothered by the cracks in the foundations of your Arizona property? Large stress cracks form when a house settles, or the earth underneath it moves. These cracks don’t usually compromise a home’s structural integrity, but they do provide an entrance for groundwater, insects, radon gas, and other contaminants that may worsen the damage.
It’s tempting to search for a less costly DIY solution instead of getting a structural engineer to fix the damage. Liquid foundation repair kits, for example, which cost $60 or less, offer a quick and permanent solution for broken concrete. However, are they truly effective in fixing the problem? Read on to find out whether liquid foundation repair kits really work!
How Much Does Fixing a Foundation Usually Cost?
Flooding, mold, musty odors, and other problems may result from a damaged foundation. Groundwater, rodents, and radon gas can all penetrate a home through even the tiniest crack in the concrete.
Studies show that foundation repairs cost about $4,000 on average for a homeowner. However, not every break in a foundation is a cause for alarm. Liquid repair kits can easily fix hairline or stress fractures that do not compromise a home’s structural integrity. With a liquid foundation repair kit, minor cracks can be solved quickly and be maintained for a long time. This simple and cheap solution, though, can be pointless if the wrong product is used or if the foundation doesn’t stop settling or shifting.
What Are Liquid Foundation Repair Kits and How Do They Work?
Liquid foundation repair kits can be classified into two types: polyurethane and epoxy.
Polyurethane Kit
This kit contains polyurethane foam which expands to fill the crack and forms a seal that prevents water and air from penetrating, effectively resolving the problem. This is an ideal solution for wall cracks that are oriented vertically or diagonally and a quarter of an inch thick.
These elastic, fast-curing foams are suitable for crack sealing and waterproofing but not structural repairs. Because of their elastic composition, they can tolerate minor concrete movement while maintaining the seal. Moreover, the foam starts to harden and expand within moments of application, decreasing the likelihood of the product leaking out of the injected crack when still liquid.
Epoxy Kit
These kits include tubes of reactant that can create a molecular bond with the concrete when combined and pumped into the crack. This kit is typically ideal for larger gaps. However, while epoxy is more durable than polyurethane, it cannot repair all damage. Wide cracks or swelling walls suggest a more severe foundation issue. In that situation, it’s time to contact a structural engineer for a thorough foundation checkup.
Liquid foundation repair epoxy comes in a variety of viscosities to accommodate cracks of various widths. Epoxy’s primary feature is its incredible compressive strength, which is greater than most concrete. This is why epoxy is the only option for cracks that need to be repaired structurally. Additionally, epoxy takes some time to cure and harden. This can be beneficial because it gives the epoxy time to settle into even the tiniest nooks and crannies.
How To Identify Which Liquid Foundation Repair Kit To Use
Here’s how to determine the appropriate kit:
- Measure the total length of the crack that needs to be fixed.
- Determine if you need to use epoxy or polyurethane foam to fill the gap. Fix leaking non-structural cracks with a polyurethane foam kit. For structural foundation cracks that are wider than a quarter of an inch or for large areas of multiple cracks, use an epoxy kit.
Is That Crack a Sign That It’s Time To Sell?
In severe cases, a weakened foundation may mean the beginning of much more critical issues. Since foundation damage occurs gradually over time, the true extent of the damage won’t be apparent for months or even years. Fractured walls, broken floors, and deteriorating chimneys may all result from a settling foundation. Underground flooding and mold growth are also a possibility. Renovations to the structure and mold remediation will cost tens of thousands of dollars.
If a homeowner is committed to staying in their house for the long haul, paying for the cost of substantial foundation repair will be reasonable. However, if that isn’t the case, they could be better off selling their home to a cash home buyer like Andrew the Home Buyer. By doing this, they can dodge the long-term issues and costs of a faulty foundation while still receiving the cash value of their house.
Conclusion: Do Liquid Foundation Repair Kits Really Work?
Cracks in a house’s foundation may seem like a minor issue. However, through time, these gaps may be penetrated by things that can cause further harm. Liquid repair kits can be an affordable and quick solution to this problem. However, they won’t be able to fix severe damage that requires major structural repairs. In that case, the homeowner should weigh up whether it’s better to incur maintenance costs to repair the substantial damage to their home or sell and receive their property’s cash value.
