How to fix a crack in a brick or concrete wall
Walls wear out over time and that's a fact. Cracks are the first to appear in them, and if they are not eliminated one day, they can collapse. Not everyone knows how to fix a crack in the wall, although it is quite simple. First of all, it is necessary to determine the scale of the tragedy. If a crack has appeared in the inner wall of the structure, it can simply be masked. If there is no habit of doing half measures, or a crack has appeared in the bearing wall, then urgent measures will be required to eliminate it.
The first stage of elimination is to identify the cause of the appearance. Since, the elimination of the consequences does not provide protection against the recurrence of the specified problem.
Of the most likely natural causes of cracks, atmospheric influences, soil subsidence and seismic activity are distinguished. On the other hand, an equally important factor in the appearance of cracks is poor-quality building materials used in construction or repair, as well as poor-quality construction work or with violations of technology. If the second group of causes can be at least partially eliminated with the help of repairs, then in the second case, the fight against the elements is often useless. However, if the causes are eliminated, then the next step is to determine the type of building materials used in the construction of the walls.
Since wooden buildings have lost their relevance, it is necessary to determine how to repair a crack in the brick wall of the house. For this purpose, the size of the defect and its location are determined. If it is small and located in the inner part of the house, the surface is prepared with the removal of obstacles, such as wallpaper, plaster, which interfere with the restoration work. After that, the crack-gap increases in size for more convenient work with it and then primed with water or a special primer based on emulsion and cement, if cement mortar was used during the laying of walls.
Next, the hole is filled with the prepared putty or cement mortar and then treated with a finishing mortar. Separately, it is worth paying attention if defects appear in the outer part of the wall. Precipitation getting inside can lead to the destruction of not only the surface layer, but also the brickwork of the walls. More serious damage to brick walls requires the installation of reinforced or plastic meshes during the repair process, which will prevent further destruction. In addition, in difficult cases, screeds are used, which are installed simultaneously in the upper, lower and middle parts of the crack.
Concrete walls crack just as often as any other. At the same time, many puzzle over how to close a crack in a concrete wall. The process is similar to working with brick walls, however, PVA glue is used as a primer. In this case, the hollow distance is filled with cement mortar. In addition, sealants can be used to seal small defects. Special versions for working with concrete are best, but acrylic ones are also suitable. When using silicone options, it is necessary to use additional insulating elements, such as gauze or paper tape, since they are quite oily.
Do not rack your brains: "How to fix large cracks in the wall?". The easiest way is to demolish it and restore it from scratch. Preferably from the very beginning, i.e. foundation. Since subsidence of the soil negatively affects it, which subsequently causes damage to other structures. Before repairing large cracks, it is also worth consulting with a specialist builder who can answer all questions.
