Foundation crack repair
Most poured basement walls crack somewhere. The point is knowing which cracks are just cracks, and which are telling you the wall is moving.
Foundation crack repair seals cracks in basement and crawl space walls against water and, where needed, bonds the concrete back together. It's for Cheyenne-area homeowners with a crack that leaks during snowmelt, one that's getting wider, or one a home inspector flagged. We connect you with a foundation contractor who looks at the pattern before deciding how to treat it.
Which cracks are a concern?
- Horizontal cracks in a poured wall, or along a mortar line in a block wall
- Cracks wider than about 1/8 inch, or wider at one end than the other
- Cracks where one side has shifted in or out past the other
- Stair-step cracks in a block wall
- Cracks that leak or show white mineral deposits
- Cracks that have reopened after a patch
Thin vertical cracks in a poured wall that are even in width are usually from concrete shrinkage as it cured. They can still leak, but they aren't a structural warning on their own.
Why do Cheyenne foundations crack?
Concrete shrinks as it cures, which accounts for many hairline cracks. On top of that, Cheyenne gets a long freeze-thaw season, with an average first fall freeze at the end of September and a last spring freeze in mid-May according to the National Weather Service. Water that gets into a crack and freezes widens it a little each time. Soil pressure, settlement and heave produce the cracks that matter most, and those come with a pattern: horizontal, stair-step or tapered.
How are cracks repaired?
- Polyurethane injection fills a crack from inside with a flexible foam that expands to seal it against water. It suits leaking shrinkage cracks.
- Epoxy injection bonds the two sides of a crack in a poured wall back together. It's used for cracks with structural meaning, after the cause of movement is addressed.
- Exterior sealing digs down outside and seals and membranes the crack from the soil side, often with drainage improvements.
- Block walls are usually repointed or reinforced rather than injected, because the hollow cores don't hold injection material well.
- Reinforcement such as carbon fiber straps or anchors comes in when a crack is part of a wall that's moving.
What affects the cost?
The number and length of cracks, wall type, whether access is from inside or outside, finished walls in the way, and whether the crack is part of a larger movement that needs stabilizing. We don't quote prices; the contractor sees the cracks first.
Should I patch it myself?
Patching a crack with hydraulic cement or caulk can slow a leak, but it also hides whether the crack is growing. Before patching, photograph it with a ruler, mark the ends with a pencil and date them. That record tells a contractor far more than a patched wall.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is a vertical crack in my basement wall a problem?
A thin, even vertical crack in a poured wall is usually shrinkage and mostly a leak concern. A crack that's tapered, horizontal, shifted or getting wider deserves an evaluation.
Does crack injection stop a wall from bowing?
No. Injection seals or bonds a crack, but it doesn't resist soil pressure. A wall that's bowing needs anchors, braces, straps or rebuilding, with the crack treated afterward.
When is the best time to repair a leaking crack?
Any dry period works for interior injection. Many Cheyenne homeowners first notice leaks during spring snowmelt, so that's a good time to photograph and mark where water comes in.
Related services
- Basement wall repair
- Foundation piers for settlement
- Heaving basement floors
- Foundation inspections and engineer reports
More background: Laramie County foundation repair guide.
Leaning basement wall, new cracks, or a floor that's lifting?
Call and a foundation contractor who works around Cheyenne will measure the house and explain what's going on.