create an outdoor living space from concrete

Posted on: 2 December 2015

If you currently have some cracks in your foundation, you may have also encounter issues with pest infestations and ice expansion of the cracks in winter. To prevent both bugs and the widening of the cracks due to freezing water, you can request foundation crack repair from a contractor, but it may prove more costly than a temporary solution. Thankfully, the following temporary solutions will save you some money and help you get through the fall and winter months until you can afford more costly repairs.

Concrete Patches

If you mix concrete in small batches, then you can apply it to the areas of your foundation where you know water is seeping in. Apply the fresh concrete to the crack and within a couple of inches to either side of the crack. Be sure to use a trowel to flatten the concrete patch into the crack, even if you can barely see it. If you use a fine grain concrete patch, this will definitely fill and hold the cracks in your home's foundation until spring, but you will need to apply it when the temperatures are above freezing.

Rubber Spray in a Can

Weird though it sounds, rubbery spray patches are very effective at getting into cracks and expanding to fill little spaces. The rubber spray, once it hits the air, immediately begins a chemical transformation which allows it to turn from a liquid to a solid. Additionally, because it is rubber, it will deflect a lot of condensation and prevent ice from filling the cracks and widening them.

Paint-on or Spray-on Sealants

Perhaps the cheapest option of all, paint-on or spray-on clear sealants can be used to "glue" and fill in the cracks in your foundation. The downside is that these are also the most temporary, and you may need to reapply them frequently. It is also a good idea to spray the cracks in your foundation from inside the house as well, so that the cracks are covered from both sides of the foundation wall. The sealants are more likely to fail from the outside, so if you spray the opposite side of the wall, then you may have a little extra time to get to the outside crack. 

Additional Help for Pest Infestations

While filling and sealing the cracks prevents several wiggly and long-legged pests from invading your home (via the cracks), you may also want to sprinkle or spray the foundation with a pesticide or pest deterrent. Doing so will prevent pests from trying to undo your temporary patches to gain access to your home. If you are using a spray pesticide or deterrent, it is best to spray it over the whole of your foundation so that it sinks into the cracks before you use your pre-selected patch method.