One of the first signs of a foundation problem in your home is cracks. However, these cracks do not necessarily mean that your foundation requires costly, invasive repair methods. When caught early, cracks can simply be repaired using one of our crack injection solutions. At Intech Anchoring, we use injections of either epoxy or urethane to seal cracks and restore structural soundness.
Both epoxy and urethane are plastic adhesives that bond to concrete, wood, and metals. Epoxy combines two separate components, one of which seals the cracks in your foundation and another that welds the structure. While the material requires more time to cure and settle into tiny crevices, epoxy is exceptionally strong. Urethane, also known as grout or polyurethane, is comprised of hydrophilic urethane chemical resins that react when they come into contact with water. Though featuring less compressive strength than epoxy, urethane expands and develops into a flexible foam that creates a direct bond with the concrete of your foundation. Both epoxy and urethane injections are usually sufficient measures for preventing additional cracks in your foundation, but carbon fiber is sometimes a required addition.
The installation of both epoxy and urethane injections is simple and minimally invasive to your home. For epoxy, only 2-3 Intech Anchoring team members, a concrete drill, hand tools, and cleaning materials are required. First, our team will combine the two components using a ratio of 2:1. Then, they will insert injection ports every 6-12”. Finally, they will inject the epoxy paste into the cracks and allow the material to cure for about seven days.
The process for urethane injections is similar, requiring only 1-3 team members. The same 2:1 ratio is used to create the paste for the urethane injections, and this material is then inserted into the cracks. Damp areas do not even need to be dried first when working with urethane. As with epoxy, the urethane will need to cure for a brief period of time.
Both epoxy and urethane injections are cost effective, minimally invasive foundation repair solutions that ensure the future structural soundness of your home. In addition, epoxy and urethane are both insensitive to moisture, do not shrink over time, penetrate your foundation deeply, and quickly adhere to all foundation materials – including concrete, metal, and wood. Our epoxy and urethane injections systems are available in three viscosities (low, medium, and high) for any application. While epoxy is the most cost effective solution, urethane is beneficial because it can be applied to damp surfaces.
While our crack injection solutions offer many advantages, they are not ideal for extensive damage. If you have cracks that are too large for epoxy or urethane injections, or if the wall we are working with is severely bowed, we may have to use wall anchors or carbon fiber to solve the issue. In addition, if your foundation has already incurred more serious structural damage, we will need to use a more invasive method of repair.
Overall, our crack injection solutions are the best solution for foundation issues that have not progressed past the cracking stage. Compared to other crack repair methods, they are minimally invasive, more affordable, and preventive of further deterioration. To learn more about how our epoxy and urethane injections can solve your foundation problems, call Intech Anchoring Systems today at 800-223-7015.
Tim is the President of Intech Anchoring and has 25 years of experience in the Civil Engineering and Geostructural Industry. Tim has developed extensive industry knowledge by working to support the needs of specialty contractors at each and every business level. Tim’s diverse industry background has given him exposure to a wide variety civil construction projects, ranging from the simplest residential applications to the most complex commercial and industrial projects. Coupled with a highly skilled and educated team, Tim focuses on providing the highest quality products and solutions to Intech Anchoring’s customers in order to consistently exceed expectations.