Services

CrackMaster Concrete is a full-service foundation repair and waterproofing company serving Chilliwack  Abbotsford,Burnaby, Lower mainland, Vancouver North Vancouver ,West Vancouver and surrounding area.

 

Crack Repair

Vertical Cracks

Typically a vertical crack in a foundation is non-structural and CrackMaster Concrete's Pro-Series Flexible Resin injection is the best repair. Most often, a vertical crack is the result of stress on the foundation either from concrete shrinkage or foundation movement. Even after repair, the foundation will continue to move, using the crack for stress relief. The benefit of Pro-Series Flexible Resin is that it has the ability to stay flexible, moving with the crack, while remaining sealed. This ensures the crack will never leak again.

 

Pro-Series Flexible Resin is injected from the inside, providing a superior repair without the cost or mess associated with digging from the outside. Our injections can be preformed on actively leaking cracks or as a preventative measure prior to finishing a basement.


Horizontal Cracks

A horizontal crack is potentially more series than a vertical crack as it can be structural in natural. If it is structural, at minimum, it will require a structural epoxy injection. CrackMaster Concrete also injects structural epoxy from the inside, again eliminating the need to dig outside. As well as sealing the crack by filling the entire void, the epoxy injection helps restore structural strength to the wall.

In addition to structural epoxy injections, CrackMaster Concrete offers advanced structural repair solutions. These systems work in conjunction with, or as a replacement for, epoxy injections to ensure structural integrity. They include underpinning and carbon/Kevlar stabilization systems.

Each crack and foundation repair is unique. While we can provide general information on our website, there is no replacement for a professional, qualified consultation. CrackMaster Concrete provides free, detailed, written estimates



Sources of Water:

There are two main sources of water that can enter a basement if not managed properly; storm water (from above) and groundwater (from below). Groundwater comes from rain, snow and hail that soaks into the ground. Gravity pulls the water down, through soil, gravel or sand until it reaches the point where the earth is saturated. This area is called the saturation zone and the top of this zone is called the water table. The water table can be deep in the ground or fairly close to the surface, depending on the amount of water coming from above and/or any underground sources of water.

Without properly working eaves troughs, downspouts and grading, storm water can enter your basement through a foundation crack or add to the ground saturation surrounding a foundation.

Groundwater can become an issue for your foundation when the water table rises above the level of the footing and begins to pool around the outside walls of your house and under the basement slab. Because water has the natural tendency to try to equalize by creating downward pressure at its highest point (outside the perimeter of the wall) and upward pressure at its lowest point (under the basement floor) it will find its way up through any cracks in the floor or through the joint where the wall and floor meet.

The Ideal System

 

 

An ideal system for managing and controlling water in around you house includes a weeping tile system (exterior and/or interior), sump pump, a waterproof elastomeric membrane applied with a drainage board system. Properly functioning eaves troughs with downspouts and good grading sloping away from your house are also an important components.

A - Weeping tile (interior and exterior)
Exterior weeping tile is installed around the perimeter of the house next to the footing. It collects water from around the footings, draining it into a sump basin where it collects until it is pumped out by the sump pump. Interior weeping tile is installed in the same fashion but around the inside of the footing. It also drains into the sump basin and is then pumped out by the sump pump.

B - Sump pumps
Sump pumps remove the water that has collected from the weeping tile. The sump liner is the holding tank for the collected ground water. It must be perforated and installed in a bed of washed rock.

 

C - Elastomeric Membrane
Elastomeric membrane is sprayed to the outside of the foundation to form a waterproof barrier that can stand up to hydrostatic pressure. Elastomeric membranes can also bridge any current or future cracks in the foundation.

D - Foundation Board
Foundation board is used in conjunction with elastomeric membranes. It aids in directing water down to the weeping tile system.

E - Grading
Maintaining good grading around your house is essential to help prevent damage to foundations. A negative grade sloping away from your house using clay soil up to the last few inches and covered with top soil is the best. Creating a swale (a depression that slopes or is graded out to the street) between properties also helps to direct water towards the storm sewers.