A Band-Aid for a leaky basement
Thursday, July 19th, 2012
Let us share a story from one of our customers, Matt, from Chesterfield Township, Michigan.
“My Chesterfield Township home experienced a total of five cracks in the poured foundation walls. We had the first two basement wall cracks repaired by a company that used epoxy-injection. This method did what it was supposed to, it sealed off the crack and stopped the water from coming in the basement. We thought we were safe, and proceeded to finish our basement. After the basement was finished, we were very disappointed to learn that two more cracks occurred elsewhere in the basement, resulting in disasterous leaks, damaging drywall, carpet, wood studs, insulation, a vanity cabinet, and custom tile work. We also experienced mold where the leaks had occurred. These leaks cost us thousands of dollars of damage to our basement, none of which was covered by insurance. Not knowing of any other solutions, we once again called the same epoxy injection company to repair the new cracks.
A few years later, when the fifth crack formed and leaked water, we came to the conclusion that the water was just going to keep coming in and we needed a different solution.”
Matt’s experience is not uncommon. While modern epoxy and polyurethane sealants designed for masonry repairs do a great job of sealing foundation cracks, there’s an important caveat to consider when repairing a cracked foundation. If the circumstances that caused the crack aren’t addressed, further foundation damage is very likely to occur. For example, if a concrete slab cracks because of soil settlement, repairing the crack treats the symptom rather than the problem. Additional cracking will occur as soil settlement continues.
Don’t just put a Band Aid on your basement leaks, call an expert today to solve the problem once and for all. Foundation Systems of Michigan has an expert team of inspectors with many years of experience to assess your unique situation and recommend the best solution. We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach, and offer free homeowner inspections to determine what solution is right for your home. Call us today at 877-DRY-MICH!
