Basement Foundation Crack Repair Kit

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   What Are The Best Concrete Crack Repair Kits To Repair Basement Wall Cracks?
   We have an 8 ft crack in our basement foundation wall. The crack is approximately 1/16 of an inch and water is coming in through the crack.

   What is the best concrete crack repair kit that will stop water that is currently coming in and to completely seal out water in the future.

   • ANSWER:
     I would definitely recommend FoundationArmor.com . They have the best concrete crack repair kits that activate with water to stop leaks and to seal out water. We used their kit and it worked great! Very easy and if you need help their customer service is excellent.

2. QUESTION:
   Best way to repair a foundation crack?
   I noticed a crack on the outside…and when the gutters aren’t cleaned out and we get a downpour and the gutters overflow right above the crack..water gets in the basement. What’s the best repair…is it a do it yourself kit. The water that gets in isn’t allot and its rare..

   • ANSWER:

3. QUESTION:
   wall mounted toilet leaking methane gas?
   Hi!
   I have an older 70’s model wall mounted toilet in a half bath in my basement and when we drain our tub or dishwasher upstairs we get a very strong rotten egg / methane smell downstairs..
   Besides the wax/sponge ring from the toilet what could be the other causes before I attempt replacing the ring because the toilet is not leaking water..Any comments would be greatly apppreciated…Thanks in advance.
   I have been in the house for two years this winter and it is always worse when its cold?..I also have a septic that has been pumped and there is no visible cracks in my foundation.The home is also a split level with no floor drains…
   Lori

   • ANSWER:
     The first thing is to narrow down the possibilities. You said half bath, so I’m assuming there’s a sink downstairs, is there also a laundry tub, in any case plug them off with a test plug. If the smell goes away, there’s your culprit. Usually when you get sewer gas from flushing a large quantity of water, the trap water is being sucked out by the suction it produces. Have someone downstairs to watch while you run the water to see if you get motion in the trap of the toilet. If none of this is happening, you must search for a crack in your vent line. If anyone can go on the roof safely, put a hose in the vent and see if anything leaks. The fix for a sink is to put a flapper check valve in the drain leading to the sink, like the one’s used on sump pumps. For the vent, if it’s cast iron, a cheap repair is fiberglass repair kit. Just get everyone out of the house when you do it because of the epoxy smell. Good Luck!

4. QUESTION:
   Finishing a basement….waterproofing,carpeting etc.?
   I have a huge unfinished basement (60×30)that I can do virtually anything to but dont know where to start, how to do it or have the money.
   I would like to go the cheapest way possible,but still look nice, any ideas on where to buy trim,ceiling,carpet etc?
   Should I use some sort of sealant on the walls,poured walls?
   Is that hard,easy?
   Should we put padding under the carpet? I heard you shouldnt, but I just started checking around yesterday.
   Any suggestion would be helpful,we plan on doing the work ourselves.
   Also let me know what themes, etc. you did in your basement if you want. I can always use ideas.
   Thanks In Advance

   • ANSWER:
     Your question is like someone asking what should I do with my life. It is hugely broad. The best I can do here is give you some initial pointers and suggest you look among answers, web sites and catalogues for further explanation and finishes.

     A basement can be a smart alternative to putting on an addition to the house as you don’t have to worry about exterior walls or a roof. But you do have other considerations. Foremost is the question of water. Is it dry and can humidity be controlled. If you don’t address this first then you run the risk of losing your subsequent investment to water damage. I have posted elsewhere on water issues at length which you should easily be able to find. Next is the issue of Radon gas. You can get a test kit for this.

     When starting with an empty basement, several times I have pressure washed the walls and if necessary sucked up the run off with a wet/dry vac set up for wet pickup. This will clean out any musty odor and allow any needed applications to the walls prior to finishing.

     By “poured walls” I take it to mean your foundation is poured concrete. Most of these that I have seen have had cracks in the walls. Any cracks should be repaired. If you are ready to dig on the outside, this is the best way to fix/waterproof the foundation. For a compromise treatment you can “paint” the interior walls with products (thoro seal, dura lock, etc)found where you buy your paints.

     Your basement type (high, deep, or sloping), climate, and intended usage will all tend to dictate choices. No matter what stylistic choices you make, Insulation, ventilation, and lighting will be very important considerations.
     I usually recommend insulation only down to the frost line to take advantage of typical basement coolness in summer and natural earth as insulation. Because you usually don’t have the windows available on upper floors I suggest specific ventilation solutions separate from any Radon gas considerations. Often I suggest a fan that comes on with a light to exhaust some air. Usually I recommend more than adequate lighting and especially light color schemes. High hats may not work very well as the distance from floor to ceiling is usually less than upstairs and the light does not have a chance to spread out. Flourescent lights work well because they start spread out but not everyone likes what is available. A dark basement can feel rather creepy.

     However there might be other considerations. I have built darkrooms in basements and saw a very unique finish designed by one who’s passion was caving. Typically a basement is for “being used” hobbies, relaxing, hanging out, kids place are all possibilities. One thought many have is to put a laundry in the basement. Sometimes a shoot is installed to allow laundry to go to that room. A better option is to install machines where the laundry is used, typically by 2ed floor bedrooms. But a basement installation is usually more economical.

     While I wouldn’t recommend padding on any basement that had any chance of water damage I would recommend it on steps leading to the first floor. The exception might be an area where you expect to do a lot of standing for a long time (workbench etc) where you might not want to be standing on a concrete floor for a long time. For that area perhaps not a wall to wall but an area rug with a pad might be good if carpeting is desired.

     Frequently people will divide the space and finish it differently, utility areas will receive little finish while TV rooms will receive more.

     First you need a plan. You might pay someone familiar with basements to help you plan your project. If that person is a knowledgeable builder they may also be on call to assist while you begin construction. If doing the work yourself takes more than a season at least you have a plan that you can keep coming back to. It is a worthwhile project so, of course it is worth doing right. As you refine your questions you can post specifics and give some a better chance of a targeted response.

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