DIY Crack Repair With Carbon Fiber
The longer cracks in the foundation or basement walls of your home are left unrepaired, the more expensive the repair will be in the future when you have no choice but to make the repair. And by that time, it’s likely you won’t be able to make the fix without a heavy-duty solution, perhaps one that involves intrusive excavation and a pier or brace system to restore stability to the concrete.
But, as long as the foundation or the basement wall is only cracked, or is bowed fewer than three inches, you can successfully make the fix yourself with carbon fiber straps that will restore the wall stronger than it was before your repair. Keep in mind carbon fiber straps will not straighten the bowed wall, but the carbon fiber support will secure the wall and will prevent further movement in the concrete.
Its versatility, its ability to provide much more strength over the original concrete, and its ease of application make carbon fiber the perfect solution for restoring the structural integrity of your foundation or basement walls.
Once you know what kind of foundation supports your home, you can select the correct waterproofing system for your project. If the crack you want to repair leaks, fill it with a polyurethane product, let it cure, chip away any excess, and smooth it. After that, it’s just a matter of a few simple steps:
- Clean and smooth the cracked area with a diamond grinder to ensure sufficient adhesion of the epoxy and carbon fiber. Even if the area seems clean, it helps to open the pores of the concrete to facilitate deeper penetration that will strengthen the bond.
- Roll on a layer of liquid epoxy, then embed the carbon fiber straps into the epoxy, ensuring that you are covering the crack. Once the straps are on, coat them with a top layer of epoxy to further adhere the carbon fiber to the wall.
- Once the epoxy has cured, the carbon fiber is ready to be painted to match the color of the wall.
Frankly, the installation of carbon fiber straps to restore the structural stability of your foundation and basement walls is that easy.
If you’re one of those folks who like to be self-sufficient and isn’t afraid to tackle the jobs that, in the old days, were entrusted only to professional contractors, Carbon Fiber Support has all the products and accessories you need to get the job done right the first time—all on your own. Think of the money you’ll save by bypassing your local foundation repair outfit. Browse our extensive catalog, and don’t hesitate to contact us on our support page. We’re always ready to offer advice or to provide more detail on the innovations of carbon fiber for DIY crack repair.