Anyone do much with Quikrete before?

[Al_4_State]

I have a couple of very small cracks in the concrete of my basement wall, and right now with the frost coming out, and the ground being fully saturated, water is getting in through them. It looks to me that a little concrete work would solve the problem, but obviously industrial grade cement is a little impractical, so I was thinking of grabbing some Quikrete, because it sets in about 15 minutes. Anyone have any luck (good or bad) with this stuff?

It isn't a finished basement, and nothing is really getting wrecked, it's just a pain in the ***.

 

[cycfan]

I have used it to set a mailbox post, but it was the kind you just pour the cement into the hole and pour the water on top. I think they make some that you pre-mix and can spread or fill cracks with.

If the cracks are small, you might be better off using a waterproofing sealer that you apply with a brush. There is one that is a thick white substance, but I can't recall the name of it right off hand.

GO CYCLONES!!!

 

[CYVADER]

not sure that is going to be the answer as that would be the equivalent to putting a bandaid on after surgery. i think that after a week or two the water would start to come back in with a hard rain.
hard to say without looking at it, but i would just call up a foundation specialist and see what their opinion is? i would guess there is not tiling around the house, if you don't have a proper grade that could cause grief as well.

 

[SwirlingFloater]

Rockite is something to consider. It is easy to work with and works well for patching.

Rockite, For Anchoring Cement and Patching, water based structural anchoring cement compond, for anchoring,bolts,fastenings,fixings

 

[cyfan964]

Get an epoxy crack filler. Way easier, better result.

Epoxy Crack Filler for Concrete or Masonry

 

[TarHeelHawk]

I have used it to set a mailbox post, but it was the kind you just pour the cement into the hole and pour the water on top. I think they make some that you pre-mix and can spread or fill cracks with.

If the cracks are small, you might be better off using a waterproofing sealer that you apply with a brush. There is one that is a thick white substance, but I can't recall the name of it right off hand.

GO CYCLONES!!!

That's my dad and I did at his new townhouse when he wanted to put his flagpole up. Quikrete is awesome for jobs like that.

 

[EYEoftheSTORM]

I work over at Lowe's and in the Lumber dept. we carry a specific concrete filler for repairing concrete walls, if I were you I would go and check out our supply if you are wanting to make a more permanent repair, as regular Quikrete may be rather porous than a filler and the water still will seep in....

 

[Wallruss64]

Definitely use rockite or another kind of hydraulic cement. You're just wasting time with quickrete. Another thing that I would do after you cover the cracks with the cement I would use a product called drylok. It is a product that you would use on the whole basement. You brush or roll it on like paint and it actually will expand if water still gets into the basement and will hold the water until the pressure goes away from the outside of the foundation.

 

[Al_4_State]

Thanks for the tips! I'm just renting, and the landlords probably aren't going to call a foundation specialist. I think it's just a problem of the frost coming out of the ground, as it rained after we moved in last fall, and there was no problem.

Honestly, a band aid is fine with me. Nothing is getting ruined but I just want to keep the floor pretty dry.

I'll go with a hydraulic cement/epoxy, and cover it with drylok. The actual cracks are really small, and they hadn't had a previous problem with leaking. I assume I should wait until everything drys out right? I don't care that much about a long term fix, because the landlord doesn't give a damn about the basement, and I just want something that will hold for a couple years. It didn't leak this fall when it just rained, I think we're just looking at a perfect storm of ground thaw + rain.

 

[JDDCy]

You might want to check with Austen Arnaud according to HILLCYD.:smile:

 

[ripvdub]

Yeah, i'd wait til it dries out, if you can or if it ever will.

 

[C.John]

I've used DryLok Fast Plug hydraulic cement before with good results. Town I live in has nasty clay soil that puts alot of pressure on foundations and doesn't hold much water, to seepage happens in quite a few basements.

You can use it while the walls are wet. Just chisel out the cracks some, mix and install.

 

[Al_4_State]

If I can use the DryLok while the walls are wet, I might go that route. Do I need any extra tools for that?


Also, if it makes a difference, one of the cracks is in the floor, the other is an inch up from the floor.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Yeah, anything like quikrete is basically just going to slow down the moisture as it comes through. I'd agree with some of the alternatives listed.

 

[besserheimerphat]

I believe the hydraulic cement can be applied as water is seeping in - check the label. Make sure to wear gloves and use some kind of trowel. When I was doing similar stuff a few years ago I didn't and my fingers ended up really chewed up trying to push the stuff into the crack by hand. Plus it's not good on your skin; hands get really dry and cracked.

 

[C.John]

I believe the hydraulic cement can be applied as water is seeping in - check the label. Make sure to wear gloves and use some kind of trowel. When I was doing similar stuff a few years ago I didn't and my fingers ended up really chewed up trying to push the stuff into the crack by hand. Plus it's not good on your skin; hands get really dry and cracked.

This ^^^^

 

[CyFever]

Quikcrete as others have said is not the solution. For a quick fix, I would look at an injectable, hydrophilic epoxy sealer.

The real solution is to call in a specialist. Your moisture protection really needs to be on the outside of the foundation. You need as well graded backfill to all seepage down to the drain tile that you also need.

 

[Al_4_State]

I'm not calling a specialist. I'm renting the house, and if the landlord doesn't care enough to do it, then why should I? I'm just looking for a high quality bandaid. Sounds like I found one.

I'll either go with dry lock, hydraulic cement, or both. I planned on using a trowel, as applying it by hand sounds awful. Two of these cracks are literally so small, that I won't be able to push anything into them. They're microscopic, so I'll be patching over them. Granted if they're that small, the stuff will get in.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

If I can use the DryLok while the walls are wet, I might go that route. Do I need any extra tools for that?


Also, if it makes a difference, one of the cracks is in the floor, the other is an inch up from the floor.

If your cracks are there, it has nothing to do with frost as it only affects the top 1-2 ft of ground if no snow is insulating the ground. This year unless the ground has been exposed all winter, there isn't much frost at all to speak of. With there not being much frost, the melting snow is draining through the ground so as a result the ground it totally saturated right now.

I would walk around the outside of the house to see if you have any ice buildup on something that would cause melting snow to drain towards the house. Do all you can to promote draining away from the house especially this year. Stay away from the quikrete as that stuff doesn't seal and is very porous. I would use some sort of epoxy but go see the guy above from Lowes and they will get you the right stuff.

 

[Al_4_State]

There's snow built up everywhere. I'm sure the ground is totally saturated with water. I think I'm going to let the snow melt run it's course before I take action.