Concrete crack repair is not something anyone wants to deal with. It can be costly, time-consuming, and just plain annoying.
However, with concrete used so much throughout the world, cracks are bound to happen. And in large projects, with so many individuals forming part of the construction team, some type of human error when mixing, pouring, or curing concrete is a distinct possibility.
It doesn’t help either that cracks in concrete are almost inevitable. At best, these can be just an unattractive nuisance. At worst, they lead to leaks that can damage the interior of the building, corrode steel reinforcements, and ultimately shorten the life of the concrete structure.
That’s why a reliable crack and leak repair system can sometimes be the difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful project. Some of you may view epoxy or other product injections as that system. But they aren’t as reliable for certain projects.
Epoxy Injections May Repair Dry Concrete Cracks, But Not Leaking Ones
Epoxy injections are designed and used for restoring the strength and integrity of the structural elements in cracked concrete. But these cracks must be relatively dry for the epoxy to achieve adhesion. After all, epoxy injections will not displace or react with water. So they are largely ineffective at waterproofing a leaking crack.
If epoxy is injected into a crack that is leaking, the water seepage may actually create channels through the epoxy, creating leaks in the new repair.
Other Injection Products Aren’t Much Better
All injection products suffer from the disadvantage of being somewhat hit and miss because both the hole drilling and the material injection is done blind. While the success rate can be high, achieving 100% effectiveness is extremely difficult. And if a crack has been previously injected and the original epoxy has cracked, it can be next to impossible to find the exact spot to re-inject. And because the rest of the repair is a solid mass, the epoxy cannot flow to find the cracks.
You’re Likely Better Off with Waterproofing Products Instead
Unlike injection products, waterproofing products can be used while the crack is still leaking. And they can guarantee the crack will be repaired for the life of the concrete structure.
For instance, crystalline waterproofing systems provide both a short-term physical barrier to water and long-term chemical waterproofing through the growth of pore-blocking crystals. These systems are roughly equal to injection in the skill and time that’s required. But they are significantly cheaper and far more reliable.
The downside of this repair method is that it is rigid and will not tolerate the concrete moving. However, with quality products and proper training, even badly cracked and leaking concrete can be successfully repaired to a dusty-dry state.
Because these repairs are inconvenient and often expensive, your best crack repair strategy is to focus on prevention and control.
But if you need to handle some repairs, consider Kryton‘s Krystol® Leak Repair System. It is the complete way to repair cracks and create durable, waterproof structures. This system will repair the cracks and leaks for the life of the structure.
