How to Repair a Damaged Foundation

There's a simpler way to repair a cracked or damaged foundation.

Over time the ground on which a house is built will begin to settle. The house will shift, and the foundation can begin to crack. Poor rebar reinforcement and construction can also lead to structural damage and cause cracks in the foundation. Repairing a damaged foundation ultimately involves complete concrete restructuring and placing your home on a new foundation. There is a simple and cheaper way to repair unsightly, damaged foundations, though.

Things You'll Need

• Waterproof expanding foam
• Concrete mix
• Trowel
• Bucket
• Water
• Toothbrush
• Knife

Instructions

1. Clean around and in the cracks in the damaged foundation the best you can with water and a toothbrush. Let the cracks dry completely.

2. Put the nozzle on the can of waterproof expanding foam. Insert the nozzle as deep as you can in the crack. Pull the trigger and spray up and down in the crack until you have filled the crack halfway full. The foam expands, so you don't want much oozing out when it dries. Wait 24 hours for it to dry.

3. Trim any expanding foam off -- flush with the foundation -- that leaked out of the cracks and dried.

4. Mix the concrete mix with the correct amount of water as specified on the bag's directions.

5. Use the trowel to smear a thin coat of concrete over the cracks. Trowel it level so the concrete blends in with the surrounding concrete foundation.

References

• E Foundation Repair: Repair Foundations
• Inspectapedia: The Foundation Crack Bible