The Midwest summers can bring extreme heat and lack of rainfall. This combination can result in not only soil cracking, but concrete and foundation cracks. As a homeowner, any concrete or foundation cracks can cause uneasiness and anxiety.
There are three scenarios when it comes to concrete cracking: try to prevent the cracks from starting, prevent the cracks from worsening, or repairing the cracks. Let’s take a look at each option as we try to understand how summer droughts lead to concrete cracks.
Scenario #1: Prevent the Cracks from Even Starting
Concrete is just any other element to your home that requires monitoring, maintenance, and care. Specifically in regions where temperatures reach upwards of 90 degrees and beyond for several days in a row, you’ll learn that watering the concrete areas, specifically around your foundation, is important. If you allow the soil to remain bone dry, it will cause shrinking, resulting in the concrete to crack and move.
That’s how damage occurs in your foundation when it’s warm outside. If you have issues with your foundation in the summer, watering it helps. During hot seasons, keep your foundation at a relatively constant moisture level by watering it regularly, especially if your foundation is a concrete slab. You can help prevent foundation damage during Summer by using a soaker hose and placing it about 18-22″ from your foundation. It’s a good way to stop problems that would require foundation repair, especially on concrete slabs. The water will be absorbed into the soil around your foundation and help preventing cracking. Another way how hot Texas weather can damage foundations is this: It can make your foundation crack. If it’s extremely warm and dry and temperatures reach the 90-95 degrees and above, it’s beneficial to moisten your foundation with water and the yard around on it on a regular basis. To avoid issues and deterioration that will require repairing your foundation, don’t allow the soil in your yard to get very dry. By simply utilizing a soaker hose, you can help stop foundation cracks. Learn how watering helps and how to do it.
Scenario #2: Prevent the Cracks from Worsening
Once cracks in the concrete appear, it’s important to prevent them from worsening. You can oftentimes “water” your concrete so the droughts don’t worsen the concrete. In addition, don’t use snow melt salt on the concrete, as that worsens the surface. A homeowner should view their concrete as any other upkeep item in their home. Pay attention to the quality, safety, and condition of your concrete and if the cracks worsen, see a professional opinion.
Scenario #3: Repair the Cracks
Determining the most effective solution to a foundation or wall crack can be difficult and a solution is not a ‘one size fits all’ mentality. In fact, many factors are considered by the experts at PolyMagic before deciding on a solution. Those factors include the width and thickness of the crack and the surrounding area, foundation movement, and structural damage. There are two solutions that PolyMagic™ suggests to our customers:
EPOXY
Epoxy injection should be used for cracks that need to be structurally repaired and serves more as a barrier that bonds and holds. Epoxies can add a great amount of strength to a foundation as they are known for their static condition. The epoxy injection process begins by cleaning the crack and the surrounding area of all debris. Injection ports are then inserted along the length of the crack. The epoxy is then injected through the ports until the crack is completely sealed.
POLYURETHANE RESIN
Polyurethane resins are known for their flexibility. Depending on the size and mobility of the crack, the poly resin will move with the wall during expansion and contraction of the surrounding soils. This specially formulated polyurethane can even be injected into actively leaking cracks, stopping water within minutes. The advantages include:
- Flexibility
- Sealing qualities of foundation walls
- Eliminating air leaks
- Repairing made from the interior
- Stopping active leaks
- Reducing humidity and water vapor permeation
Are your cracks beyond repair? Reach out to the experts at PolyMagic for a free estimate! 816-765-4800