The use of carbon fiber staples is an effective approach to permanently repair cracks in the poured wall basement, 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 (or 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 subsequent leaks, and the repair usually comes with a warranty (up to a lifetime warranty). Generally, epoxies are used only 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 whether the leaking crack is structure related. To ensure that the repair is permanently sealed, it is recommended that carbon fiber staples be used in conjunction with epoxy resins in the repair process in case the crack is based on any structural considerations. 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. Keep in mind that once a foundation is finished, it can become very difficult to determine if a crack has re-formed and if there is a leak 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 bonds the concrete back together and prevents the repaired area from moving inward. However, it 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 superior tensile strength to 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 comfort enough for a homeowner who does not plan to finish their basement, but it is essential for a homeowner who plans to shoulder the expense of finishing the basement. The crack repair could later be covered with some type of board or wall panel, and it might not be easy to repair a failed crack again or prevent damage (whether warranted 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 the homeowner that repaired cracks will not re-crack or leak. It may be the last chance that the homeowner completing the basement can know for sure that he has a permanently dry basement with the security associated with a properly sealed basement.