What Is The Fastest Way To Fix A Cracked Foundation – 2024 Guide

When your home’s foundation starts to crack, it’s usually not something that can be ignored. The foundation typically supports everything else built on top of it, so as soon as there are cracks, you may notice floors and walls beginning to shift and become crooked, which can be very dangerous.

If you’re concerned about what to do about this problem, here are the 10 fastest ways to fix a cracked foundation

1. Use A Pressure Washing Machine

A pressure washing machine is one of the best ways to clean up your concrete. This is done using water pressure from an industrial-sized hose and spraying your sidewalk or driveway in one swoop.

We recommend using a power washer over other cleaners if you’re looking for cheap and efficient methods for cleaning your sidewalk. Using chemicals will be cheaper than power washing, but power washing will also take much less time, on top of being highly effective at removing grime.

Plus, there are no harmful chemicals involved! However, suppose you want concrete cleaning done right without taking up too much of your time. In that case, you should consider hiring professionals who use high-powered industrial machines when pressure washing concrete.

2. Let It Dry

You can’t seal in cracks if they are still wet. So wait until your house is completely dry (around 8 weeks) before doing anything else. Consider covering any exposed areas while you wait to be on the safe side. You don’t want water seeping through your paint job before it can be fully set.

3. Get Ready To Repair

Cracks in concrete foundations typically mean it’s time for foundation repair. Unfortunately, these cracks aren’t just cosmetic problems: If they spread and worsen, your entire home can be affected.

It’s a good idea to hire a professional contractor for foundation repair Kalamazoo MI, but if you want some DIY tips or solutions or want to know how you can tell when it’s time for your professional contractor to step in. Find here how experts can help!

4. Use Concrete

You’ll need more than caulk if you have an older home and want to repair that crack in your concrete. The best option for old foundations is typically replacing them with concrete.

Unfortunately, since repairing can be cost-prohibitive for some homes, it’s common for real estate agents and home sellers to hide or downplay cracks in their properties.

But as long as your home inspector has disclosed any known problems, don’t let cracks stop you from buying a house. In many cases, such defects can be repaired down the road after you’ve lived there for a while.

5. Work With Cement

Even if your foundation is crumbling, you can likely prevent further damage by filling cracks with cement. According to at least one contractor on Quora, Filling it with cement will stop water from coming in and prevent the cracking of more concrete.

To use cement for repairs, measure out an amount slightly larger than the crack(s) you’re filling. Then use a trowel or spreader tool to apply it. Let dry and then seal with paint or a waterproofing product. This isn’t permanent—it’ll need to be re-applied as needed—but it’s better than letting water continue into your basement.

6. Add Stones

Mixing concrete is labour-intensive. Besides mixing up multiple batches, you’ll need both dry and wet forms, which can take several hours to set. Instead of pouring them directly into forms, concrete pavers cut out most of these extra steps.

Pavers are precise and ready for installation, so all you have to do is dig holes, fill them with pavers and sand, and then backfill with concrete. The pre-cutting even allows for better drainage than poured slabs; if there’s a paper that doesn’t drain properly after settling or rainwater gets trapped between pavers because of poor compaction when installing, that paver can be easily removed, so water has an easier route out of the your yard.

7. Pour Concrete

One option is to pour concrete under or around your home’s foundation. Concrete has a similar effect as grout, so it can help fill in gaps between your home and its foundation, but it’s more permanent than epoxy. For smaller cracks, you can also purchase concrete sealants that are specially formulated for these applications; however, they’re far less durable than poured concrete and will require replacement over time.

This method requires professional assistance and can be quite costly depending on factors like trenching, excavation, and labour involved in pouring cement. It would help if you also remembered that old foundations aren’t designed for new concrete; when making repairs, you may need to have one portion of your home jacked up or supported while another section is being worked on.

8. Mix Quickfix With Water

This is probably one of the fastest ways to fill in a small crack. Simply grab some Quickfix from your local home improvement store, mix it with water, and then apply it to your crack. If you haven’t access to Quickfix and only have concrete, grab some sand from your yard and use that instead.

After applying either mixture, smooth it out with a putty knife or trowel for an even look. The final result should match up with existing cement work on your home. Depending on how big or small your crack is, you can finish filling it in no time at all.

9. Use Plastic Film

Homeowners have some great options for getting rid of cracks in their concrete. The first step is finding out how deep your damage is and whether or not you need an expert. Some cracks are just surface-level, meaning they’re only slightly discoloured.

An epoxy sealer can fill in those gaps and leave your sidewalk looking new. Pros best do this because they have easy access to paints that match your sidewalk’s colour and know how deep to apply their product without it seeping into areas it shouldn’t be.

10. Touch Up With Paint

If you have paint that matches your existing walls, touching up those cracks with fresh paint could be all you need. An extension pole and angled brush make applying the paint easier, especially in hard-to-reach spots.

Once dry, use a damp cloth or sponge with mild soapy water to remove any excess paint. Another option is filling cracks with caulk and then painting over them when dry.

Conclusion

Cracks in your home’s foundation are not just unsightly – they can also compromise the structural integrity of your home, increasing the risk of foundation failure and costly damage to your home, property, and possessions. In addition, foundation repair can be expensive, especially if you hire a contractor. Still, with these 10 fastest ways to fix a cracked foundation on your own, you’ll get back to enjoying your home instead of worrying about its stability in no time!