Basement Wall Crack Repair in New Jersey

Central & Northern NJ and the Jersey Shore’s Foundation Repair Experts

If you’ve ever cracked your car windshield, you know that more likely than not, the crack will expand and become more serious over time. Well, the same can be said for your foundation walls. When you notice cracks in the walls, you don’t want to look the other way and put the repair on hold.

Doing so will only exacerbate the issue and make it more expensive to repair. Since the cost of basement wall crack repair depends largely on the size of the crack, there’s no question that delaying service increases the overall cost. Let's delve in to everything you need to know about foundation crack repair.

As your New Jersey foundation repair company, Blue Umbrella has the experience, tools and expertise to reliably fix foundation wall cracks.

Whether the cracks you see are vertical, horizontal or stair-step cracks, we can help you seal up the cracks and, more importantly, address the underlying issue that’s causing your walls to crack in the first place. We also offer a transferable lifetime warranty for your peace of mind. We provide permanent crack repair.

Have Basement Wall Cracks?

Contact Blue Umbrella today to discuss how we can fix your basement wall cracks. Get your free inspection and estimate.

Free Estimate

The Causes of Basement Wall Cracks

Foundation wall cracks are caused by two main types of cracks: settlement cracks and pressure cracks.

Settlement Cracks

Settlement cracks occur within the first seven years or so of the home being built. When the concrete is poured as a liquid, it eventually dries and shrinks. As the foundation settles into the ground, these types of cracks can appear. Sagging foundations are your first problem that produce issues that require basement crack repair.

Pressure Cracks

Pressure cracks are more serious in nature. These cracks indicate an underlying issue that needs to be addressed and corrected. Pressure cracks can be caused by hydrostatic pressure, tree roots infiltrating the foundation or stress points in the home such as beams, windows or door frames that are built into the foundation.

The Different Types of Wall Cracks

What you see on the surface of the basement walls in your New Jersey home can often tell you what’s happening behind the walls. The different types of basement wall cracks include:

Vertical Wall Cracks

Vertical cracks are more common and may or may not indicate a structural issue. However, since water will be able to seep through the cracks, you’ll want to have any vertical cracks sealed and repaired.

Horizontal Wall Cracks

Horizontal cracks tell you that external pressure is forcing the walls to bow inward. If you notice any horizontal cracks in your basement walls, have a professional come in and examine the cracks right away. Don’t wait until the situation worsens and you have to replace the foundation walls altogether.

Stair-Step Wall Cracks

These types of cracks can be traced to uneven settling of the soil. Stair-step cracks are the result of your home resting unevenly. Similar to horizontal cracks, you’ll want a professional to come in and examine the cracks as soon as you notice them.

Do You Need to Repair Wall Cracks?

Time is of the essence when it comes to foundation wall repair. Structural wall cracks can lead to a damaged foundation and bowing basement walls. The sooner you have a New Jersey foundation repair company come in and seal the cracks, the more you can control the damage and minimize your repair costs. You need to deal with structural cracks.

Waiting until the cracks expand means you’ll be facing more significant structural damage that’s going to cost more to fix. Non-structural cracks allow water to seep into the basement, which can damage your personal belongings and turn your basement or crawl space into a moldy, messy situation.

How to Repair Foundation Wall Cracks

For New Jersey homes and buildings with poured concrete basement walls, we can easily seal these cracks for you. We also offer customized wall crack repair solutions if your home has a block wall foundation. Additionally, we repair bowing and buckling walls for all types of foundations, using steel I-beam installation or carbon fiber strips.

There are several different materials that can be injected into the crack, such as hydraulic cement, non-expanding epoxy, and polyurethane (expanding foam).

We tend to use hydraulic cement to seal wall cracks because it forms a tighter seal and reduces the chances that the walls will need to be treated again in the future.

Whether we need to seal the cracks from the inside or outside depends on your situation. For example, if the crack is behind a chimney or a finished wall, exterior repair is likely the better approach. However, sealing a crack from the inside is more efficient and cost-effective. So if the crack is accessible from the inside, we’re more likely to recommend this approach.

Non-Structural vs. Structural Wall Crack Repair

The two main types of basement wall crack repair we perform in New Jersey are non-structural wall crack repair and structural wall crack repair. We need to prevent the walls from bowing inward for structural wall cracks.

Two of the most common structural damage repair we perform are steel I-beam installation (when the walls have bowed inward significantly) and carbon fiber strips (when the damage is less severe).

The Basement Wall Crack Repair Process

Here’s a glance into the overall process we use in New Jersey properties for non-structural wall crack repair:

Clean the Wall. Scrape the foundation walls clean to create a smooth and bare surface. We’ll remove paint and any materials that were injected into the wall during a previous repair.
Create a Groove. Create a groove into the wall along the crack.
Fill the Crack. Fill the crack with a hydraulic cement mixture.
Apply Epoxy & Rubber Coating. After the cement dries, a commercial-grade epoxy and rubber coating is applied. When the cement, epoxy, and rubber coating completely dry, all the materials bond together, creating an impenetrable seal.
Clean Up. Thoroughly clean up our workspace, show you the work we’ve completed and answer any questions you may have.

Addressing the Cause of Your Wall Cracks

Another crucial aspect of our process is addressing the underlying issue in your home. To seal the crack and do nothing else is setting your home up for failure—and that’s not what we consider a job well done! During an on-site estimate, we’ll be able to determine what’s causing your walls to crack. We may assess gutters and downspouts, and if pooling water is an issue recommend a French drain installation, property grading, additional exterior drainage or a combination of waterproofing strategies.

No matter what we recommend, you can rest assured that our No. 1 priority is ensuring the safety of you and your family through honest, fairly priced service. We’re committed to helping you protect the structural integrity of your home and ensure that whatever is causing your walls to crack today won’t be an issue tomorrow. We are New Jersey's trusted crack repair company.

We Are New Jersey's Trusted Basement Wall Crack Repair Company

Basement wall crack repair isn’t a cut-and-dry service. Every home and situation is different, which is why it’s so important to work with an experienced and reputable foundation repair company. Blue Umbrella is that trusted company, serving central & northern New Jersey, and the Jersey Shore.

Whether you notice cracks in your basement walls or water seeping into the basement, we’ll be able to quickly assess the situation and recommend the most cost-effective, lasting solution for your home. Spend less time sweating over mysterious cracks in the wall and more time enjoying your home with the peace of mind you need and deserve!