How to Fix Cracks in Concrete Foundation Piers
Concrete foundation piers are an alternate way of building a house foundation. The foundation is made up of several vertical concrete columns with steel rods inside for support that sit atop concrete footings. They are not as sturdy as solid concrete walls, but their lower cost is an advantage. A disadvantage is that they can chip and crack easily and repairs will need to be done immediately upon noticing cracks. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Heavy duty gloves
- Safety goggles
- Chisel
- Freezer
- Mallet
- Wire brush
- Hose and water
- Portland cement
- White sand
- Bucket
- Wooden dowel
- Putty knife
Instructions
-
-
1
Place the chisel in the freezer and then put on all safety gear. A cold chisel will cut through the hardened concrete pier very easily without chipping and disrupting the rest of the concrete around the crack.
-
2
Put the tip of the chisel in the crack and tap it very lightly with the mallet. It is important to be gentle so you do not damage the rest of the pier.
-
-
3
Clean the dust away with the wire brush. Soak only the area where you have widened the crack.
-
4
Make the concrete mix in the bucket, stirring with the wooden dowel. It should be three parts Portland cement, two parts sand, and one part water.
-
5
Put a small amount of concrete mix on the top of the putty knife and place it inside the crack. Gently press it into the edges and corners of the crack. Fill the rest of the opening with concrete, still being very gentle because of the pier's fragility. Allow the repair to dry for 24 hours.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Concrete mixer image by zalisa from Fotolia.com
