Using carbon fiber staples is an effective approach to permanently repairing poured wall basement cracks, when used in conjunction with an epoxy injection polymer. It is safe to give an unconditional lifetime guarantee that the epoxy-repaired, staple-reinforced crack will not reopen and leak again (nor form a new crack immediately adjacent to it that is likely to leak).

It is common to use epoxy resins or polyurethane foams as polymers injected into the basement crack with the intention of permanently preventing further water leaks and allergen/mold and mildew problems. Both products are effective in preventing further leaks, and the repair usually comes with a warranty (up to a lifetime warranty). Epoxies are generally used exclusively when the crack is known to be structural in nature (continuous movement/settling of the base); epoxies or polyurethane foam are effective if the crack is not structural in nature.

It can be difficult at times to accurately conclude if the leaking crack is related to the structure. To ensure that the repair is permanently sealed, it is advisable to use carbon fiber staples along with epoxies in the repair process if the crack is based on some structural consideration. Also, a very fast thickening epoxy is used to ensure that the epoxy does not leak out the back of the crack when a void exists behind the crack. This covers such a possibility. Be aware that once a base is finished, it can become very difficult to determine if it has re-cracked and is leaking again. The leak, if not discovered, will be a source of mold, rot and decay, and odor development behind the finished wall and/or insulation.

The epoxy rebonds the concrete and prevents the repaired area from moving inward. However, you cannot prevent the concrete from moving outward, potentially with a force greater than the concrete can withstand, causing a new crack to form. On the other hand, carbon fiber cleats add tensile strength above any resistance that may develop. As a consequence, the previously cracked area has superior resistance to forces that would otherwise cause the repaired area to open outward.

A warranty on one’s work may be enough comfort for a homeowner who doesn’t plan to finish their basement, but it is essential for a homeowner who plans to bear the expense of finishing their basement. The crack repair might later be covered with some sort of board or wall panel, and it might not be easy to repair a crack that failed again or prevent damage (whether guaranteed or not), or even know that the crack has reopened. . A carbon fiber/epoxy injection repair should be a viable combination with a lifetime warranty that comes with the teeth of not only ensuring that the applicator stands behind their work, but that no further work is likely to be required.

Using such an epoxy resin in conjunction with carbon fiber assures both the applicator and homeowner that repaired cracks will not re-crack or leak. It may be the last chance the homeowner finishing the basement can know for sure that he has a permanently dry basement with the safety associated with a properly sealed basement.