Foundation crack repair in Columbus, from the inside
A single leaking crack in a poured concrete wall can usually be sealed through its full depth from inside the basement, without excavating.
How injection works
The crack is cleaned and small plastic ports are fixed along it every few inches. The face of the crack between the ports is sealed with epoxy paste so the resin can't run out. Resin is then pumped in at the lowest port until it appears at the next one up, and the process moves up the wall. The resin fills the crack all the way through to the soil side.
Epoxy or polyurethane
Polyurethane stays flexible and expands as it reacts with water, so it suits cracks that are actively leaking or may still move a little with the seasons. Epoxy cures hard and bonds the two sides of the crack together; it suits dry or damp cracks where restoring the wall's continuity matters. We choose based on whether the crack is wet on the day and how wide it is.
Where it does not apply
- Block foundations: the hollow cores spread resin unpredictably, so these are handled with drainage instead.
- Stair-step or horizontal cracks, bowing or a wall that has moved: these point to soil pressure on the wall and need a structural assessment before any sealing.
- Many cracks at once: the wall may be telling you something larger, and an interior drain may be the better spend.
Freeze-thaw note: water in a crack expands about 9% when it freezes. Columbus sees 30 to 40 freeze-thaw cycles a year, so a hairline crack that leaks now is likely to be wider in a few winters.
Related: Basement Leak Repair · Exterior Waterproofing · Foundation Waterproofing
Common questions
How long does injection take?
Most single cracks are done in a few hours. The resin cures over the following day.
Is the crack a structural problem?
Most vertical hairline cracks in poured walls come from concrete shrinking as it cured. Horizontal cracks, stair-step patterns and walls that bow are different, and we tell you if what we see needs an engineer first.
Will the repair show?
The ports are removed and the epoxy paste can be ground smooth. You will see a neat line on the wall.
Do I need to move anything?
Just clear about three feet in front of the crack so the crew can work.