Foundation crack repair in Waterloo, Iowa
Most basement wall cracks aren't an emergency, but one that lets water in will keep doing it until it's sealed properly.
Poured concrete shrinks as it cures, so many poured basement walls develop thin vertical cracks in their first few years. Block walls crack along the mortar joints and can hold water in their hollow cores. Older brick and clay tile foundations lose mortar over time. The right repair depends on the wall material, the crack's width and direction, and whether the wall is still moving.
Which cracks need a closer look?
- A horizontal crack, or a wall that bows or leans inward
- Stair-step cracks through block joints
- A crack that's clearly wider at one end
- A crack that reopens after it's been patched
- Doors and windows upstairs starting to stick at the same time
Those can mean soil pressure or settlement, and an opinion from a structural engineer may be worth getting before anyone seals the wall. Saturated soil pressing on a block wall season after season is one common cause of inward bowing. A hairline vertical crack that only seeps is usually a simpler job.
How are cracks repaired?
- Injection on poured walls. Polyurethane or epoxy is pumped into the crack through small ports until it fills 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. Block that fills with water is often paired with interior drain tile so the cores can drain from the bottom.
- Exterior sealing. When a crack keeps leaking from the outside, digging down at that spot and sealing the outer face is another option.
Does crack repair need a permit?
The Waterloo Building Department handles residential construction, and it reminds residents that when they hire a contractor, the contractor should obtain any required permits. Sealing a crack is usually treated differently from structural repair, but ask the company or call the department before work starts. Cedar Falls, Evansdale and Hudson handle their own permits.
What affects the price?
- How many cracks need work and how long they are
- Wall type: poured, block, brick or clay tile
- Finished walls or framing in the way
- Any structural reinforcement the wall needs
We don't quote prices, and nobody should quote you over the phone. A waterproofing company sets its price after walking the basement, looking at the walls, the floor joint and the sump pit, and checking the gutters, downspouts and grading outside. Until then, any number is a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I fix a leaking crack with hydraulic cement?
A surface patch might slow a small leak for a season, but water often finds its way around it. Injection fills the crack through the wall's thickness, which is why it tends to last longer on poured concrete.
Is a horizontal crack in a block wall serious?
It can be. Horizontal cracks and inward bowing often point to soil pressure. Have the wall looked at, and consider a structural engineer's opinion before any repair.
Related services
More background: Waterloo, Iowa basement water guide.
Damp carpet along the wall, or a sump pump that cycles all night?
Call and a waterproofing company that works in Waterloo and Cedar Falls will come take a look.