Minor Foundation Cracks are normal and are typically a result of your home settling. A minor crack is anything cosmetic (e.g. hairline cracks) that does not pose a structural compromise to your home. It is highly recommended that you consult a structural engineer for any foundation cracks.
If you find yourself with a non-structural, cosmetic crack (similar to the photo on the right), you can repair it VERY easily by following the steps below:
STEP 1: Prepare the Surface
In Step 3, you will be applying a thin layer of mortar over the crack. BUT BEFORE YOU CAN DO THAT, you need to prepare the surface so that the mortar will adhere to the foundation. To prepare the surface, use a chisel or a screw driver to remove dirt and debris in and around the crack and to “rough” up the surface of the crack. Once that is done, you can move on to step 2.
In order to repair the crack, you will need to select a quality hydraulic cement. Hydraulic Cement is necessary since hydraulic cement, by nature, is crack/shrink resistant and waterproof.
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Check out Amazon for the cement used
STEP 3: Apply hydraulic cement to foundation crack
Once your hydraulic cement is mixed up according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, apply the cement to the crack using a rigid putty knife. Be sure to force the cement into the crack to ensure that the void is sufficiently sealed. At this point, “feather” out the cement so that there are no elevated surfaces and to ensure that you have a nice even finish.
“Feathered Out” Hydraulic cement
STEP 4: Allow cement to dry and paint crack to match surrounding wall
Once you have given the cement adequate time to dry and harden (according to the manufacturer’s recommendations), paint the newly applied cement to match the surrounding foundation color. This is easier said than done, however, and finding an exact color match can be difficult. I ended up needing to re-paint the entire foundation a new color. Thanks to my Graco Project Painter Plus, painting was a breeze.
With the crack repaired and the foundation painted, you have successfully repaired your cosmetic foundation crack. Again, please consult a professional/structural engineer about any foundation cracks. If you would like additional information on cosmetic foundation crack repairs, Check out my step-by-step tutorial video below.
