As the premier New Jersey waterproofing company, our skilled pros understand that not every home foundation is the same. Poured concrete and concrete block are two different types of foundations commonly found in local homes. Concrete blocks are preferred over poured foundations for several reasons. For one, they are easier to work with on a job site because they are prefabricated. They are also very strong and provide some visual appeal to the structure, and are most commonly used for basement walls.

On the other hand, poured foundations are not vulnerable at the seams because there are none. But they can be vulnerable to shifting soil, water pooling, and plumbing leaks.

Concrete block wall foundations have seams where the concrete blocks are joined together with mortar. Poured concrete foundations are solid structures with no seams. The more seams in a foundation, the more likely that cracks, crumbling, and other problems can occur. Whether you have a poured foundation, a concrete block foundation, or both, problems can happen over time that cause cracks, blisters, and crumbling.

Common Foundation Problems

Concrete degradation is a common problem that causes blistering and crumbling. This problem happens because the concrete has become vulnerable to moisture. As moisture infiltrates the porous concrete surface, it degrades the strength of the material.

Foundation cracking can occur due to water pooling near the concrete on the outside of the home. As rain floods the area, the soil under the foundation can erode away. This means that the stable ground under the foundation can no longer fully support the structure. Pressure cracks occur from the lack of support and the weight of the house.

How Foundation Repairs Work

Whatever the cause of the foundation problem, it’s highly important to make the foundation repairs as soon as possible. The problem will only get worse and can become perilous if the damage is ignored. The amount of damage directly determines how difficult the repair process is and how expensive the repairs will be. Catch the problems sooner and you save yourself a lot of frustration down the road.

If you are wondering whether or not your foundation can be repaired, in most cases it can. There are times when the structural repairs involve removing a section of the damaged foundation and replacing it, but this needs to be done by an experienced professional.

Small cracks are relatively simple to fix. They don’t require a lot of preparation, only removing the debris from the cracks with a wire brush. The loose concrete can be removed with a jet of water. The area should be allowed to dry completely. The cracks are then filled with concrete crack sealant.

Larger cracks need to be packed with patching material which is specifically made for concrete. This type of concrete patch will expand as it dries in order to fill the crack completely. The concrete patch is a limestone based material, very similar to concrete. After crack repair, the foundation surfaces are waterproofed again with a good sealant.