Foundation crack and wall repair
Most foundation cracks aren't an emergency, but one that lets water in will keep doing it until it's sealed the right way.
Poured concrete shrinks as it cures, so many poured basement walls develop thin vertical cracks within a few years. Block walls crack along mortar joints and can fill with water inside the hollow cores. Older stone and brick foundations, common under many of Dubuque's older houses, lose mortar a little at a time until water runs through the joints. The repair depends on the wall material, the width of the crack and whether the wall is still moving.
Which cracks need a closer look?
- Horizontal cracks, or a wall that bows or leans in
- Stair-step cracks running through block or brick joints
- Cracks noticeably wider at one end
- Cracks that reopen after being patched
- Doors and windows upstairs that begin to stick at the same time
Those can point to soil pressure or settling, and a structural engineer's opinion may be worth getting before anyone seals the wall. A hairline vertical crack that only seeps water is usually a simpler job.
How are cracks and joints repaired?
- Injection for poured walls. Polyurethane or epoxy is pushed into the crack through small ports until it fills the crack from the inside face toward the outside. Polyurethane stays flexible and is mainly for stopping leaks; epoxy bonds the concrete back together.
- Block walls. Leaking joints can be repointed, and block that fills with water is often paired with interior drain tile so the cores can drain out the bottom.
- Stone and brick (tuckpointing). Old mortar is raked out and replaced. The new mortar should be compatible with the old stone or brick; mortar that's much harder than the masonry can crack the units around it.
Does crack repair need a permit?
The City of Dubuque's Inspection and Construction Services division issues building permits, and plumbing, mechanical and electrical work each need their own permit. Sealing a crack is usually treated differently from structural repair, but rules change, so ask the company or call the city before work starts. Outside Dubuque, check with your own city hall.
What affects the price?
- How many cracks or how much mortar needs work
- Wall type: poured, block, brick or stone
- Whether finished walls or framing block access
- Any structural reinforcement the wall needs
We don't quote prices. The waterproofing company sets its price after someone has been in the basement, looked at the walls, floor joint and sump pit, and walked the outside to check gutters, downspouts and grading. Any figure offered before that visit is a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I fix a leaking crack with hydraulic cement?
A surface patch may slow a small leak for a while, but water often works around it. Injection fills the crack through the wall, which is why it usually holds up longer on poured concrete.
Can an old limestone foundation be made dry?
It can usually be made much drier with tuckpointing, drainage on the inside or outside, and better gutters and grading. How dry depends on the wall, the lot and how much water the hillside sends its way.
Related services
More background: Dubuque basement water guide.
Water on the floor after a storm, or a sump pit that never rests?
Call and a Dubuque-area waterproofing company will come see what's going on.