Liquid resin-based epoxy and urethane epoxy are two types of materials used by foundation repair experts to fix cracks in your home.
Do you know the differences between the two and how professionals choose which one to use for a specific job?
Keep reading below to learn the importance of fixing foundation cracks and the different applications of liquid resin-based epoxy vs. urethane epoxy.
The Benefits of Fixing Foundation Cracks Early
Most homes experience foundation cracking as concrete cures, shrinks, and goes through years of general settlement. The problem can be, if homeowners don’t deal with these foundation cracks early on, they can grow into bigger structural issues.
Foundation cracks are caused by original concrete cure time, changes in soil conditions, poor drainage, hydrostatic pressure applied to foundation walls, or if a home is built on expansive clay soil. Generally, any cracks smaller than one-quarter inch wide are not a cause for concern, but you should still seal them.
If you call a foundation crack repair expert, they will decide whether to use liquid resin-based epoxy vs. urethane epoxy based on the size of the cracks. Let’s discuss these two types of materials.
Liquid Resin-Based Epoxy
If you catch it early enough and it’s not too big, a crack can be filled with an injection of liquid resin-based epoxy. Sealing the foundation crack will stop it from growing bigger and will prevent water from seeping into your home.
Epoxy repair kits are available at most home improvement stores. But, doing it right is more difficult than it appears, so we recommend calling a professional to handle the job for you. If a foundation crack is repaired incorrectly, it’ll become a more difficult repair and more costly to remove the failed patch to properly inject the crack.
A home foundation crack repair expert will examine your walls. They will determine the structural integrity of your foundation and whether the crack resulted from more significant damage.
For the actual repair, they will first attach multiple injection ports into the wall, apply a surface-based bonding paste epoxy to cover the face of the crack, and then inject the epoxy into the foundation crack. This is done by starting at the lowest entry port and working up along the foundation crack until it’s filled.
The crack will be fully cured in approximately two days and it will be permanently fixed. A lifetime warranty against the crack leaking in the future will apply.
Expanding Urethane Foam
Expansive urethane would be the chosen repair product to fill large foundation cracks caused by structural movement, natural settlement, or voids in your foundation such as pipe penetrations from water or sewer lines leading to the street.
Your foundation crack repair services would therefore include utilizing an expanding urethane foam, also known as polyurethane.
Like epoxy, the foam is also injected into the foundation, but the difference is how it reacts when injected into the foundation crack.
It starts as a two-part liquid but transforms into a foam once it’s mixed within the injection cartridges The urethane’s volume can increase up to 30 times its original form and expands to fill larger cracks and voids.
And here’s something even more interesting. It will continue to expand to fill any voids that reach the exterior of your home.
Residential Foundation Crack Repair Services
After reading this article, you should have a better understanding of using epoxy vs. urethane for foundation crack repair.
The important thing is that you’re catching foundation cracks early enough for a simple repair. Here at USS, we offer the option of both materials to fix a client’s foundation.
Call us today at 847-382-2882 if you have any questions about foundation crack repairs or if you’d like to schedule a free consultation.
