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Sealing cracks in the walls: step by step instructions

A crack in the wall is a problem faced by residents of both private and multi-family buildings. This defect can lead to a violation of the integrity of the finish. For example, shedding paint or peeling wallpaper. Therefore, this situation cannot be ignored, regardless of the size of the crack.

Damage to brickwork occurs for the following reasons:

1. The soil, which has a heterogeneous structure, settles after a certain time. This leads to cracks.
2. The same consequences have deformation changes in the foundation, which are formed in case of insufficient deepening or placement near groundwater and an increased load on the walls from ceilings. Within 12 months after construction, the building shrinks, which also provokes the formation of cracks.
3. Problems can also arise if the laying technology does not meet the established requirements. And also when using a poor-quality solution.

You can determine the cause by localizing the problem:

• cracks in the lower part of the building indicate excessive ceiling pressure;
• the upper part is damaged as a result of subsidence of the foundation.

Before you repair cracks in a brick wall, you need to make sure that they do not grow in size. Otherwise, the work done will be fruitless. Paper landmarks should be attached to the wall and their integrity should be monitored.

To eliminate a small crack up to 5 mm wide, you can use a cement composition. Work is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Initially, debris must be removed from the gap and treated from the inside with a moistened rag.
2. The edges of the gap before work should be knocked down with a hammer, because. this will ensure better adhesion of the mortar and bricks.
3. Damage of medium size (from 5 mm to 10 mm) is also eliminated with the help of a cement composition, but with the addition of an additional component to it - sand.

Cracks larger than 10 mm wide are critical. Lack of timely intervention can have negative consequences. There are several ways to repair this damage:

1. The damaged area should be dismantled and replaced with new material.
2. The masonry is disassembled from the top row. Bricks are laid according to the "brick castle" method.
3. Fragments of reinforcement are inserted into the masonry, which cover the crack.
4. If it is not possible to disassemble the masonry, the damage site is sealed with cement mortar.
5. T-shaped metal elements can be driven into the slot, which are fixed on both sides with dowels. The use of metal parts is optional. But in this case, the wall of the building must be strengthened from the inside.
6. The sealing of cracks in brick walls can be carried out using mounting foam or a sealant. The gap cavity should be filled with foam, wait until it hardens and cut the material to a depth of 2 cm.
7. The resulting space is filled with a cement mixture. When using a sealant, it is important to choose the right composition. Silicone-based sealant should not be used, since this material does not adhere to plaster, putty and paint.
8. It is necessary to prepare a special sealant for processing seams. It is placed in the slot with a construction gun. Wall crack sealant has a definite advantage over cement mix. It has the ability to increase and decrease in size without cracking, which is unusual for a conventional solution. This tool belongs to the category of expensive materials, but its use allows you to get a high-quality result.
9. It is recommended to strengthen the cracked wall from the inside. This procedure involves sealing the damaged area and applying a metal profile that will act as a lock. It should be placed across the crack to prevent its subsequent propagation. Anchors are used to fix this element. You can use steel staples. In this case, you need to pre-drill the holes.
10. If the cracks were formed due to an incorrectly poured foundation, it is recommended to install an additional concrete belt on it. Along the perimeter of the house, you need to prepare a trench, the depth of which should exceed the depth of the foundation. Concrete is placed in this recess, from which the belt is constructed.

How to repair cracks in a plastered wall

The danger of cracks in plastered walls is not limited to an aesthetic defect. As a result of damage, both the plaster coating and the masonry can suffer. This mainly applies to exterior walls, where the finish is largely negatively affected by low temperatures and moisture. Through cracks in the coating, moisture penetrates into the masonry, in which it subsequently freezes. This causes the backing of the coating and the destruction of the masonry.

These damages to the plaster layer can be formed not only from the outside, but also from the inside of the house. These are very thin cracks that visually resemble a web and spread over the entire surface of the wall. The reason for this may be incorrect application of the composition, violations in the proportions when mixing the components and failure to comply with the requirements for the care of the coating. Among the most common mistakes is the imposition of a thick layer of mortar. Cracks in this situation are a natural consequence of a violation of technology.

Damage also appears after finishing: wallpapering, painting or puttying. This can be prevented by using reinforcing elements that are installed before finishing. For this purpose, several materials are used:

• plaster mixture;
• fiberglass mesh;
• cullet;
• fiberglass.

The most convenient option is the last material. Fiberglass is attached to a primed and dry surface using a special adhesive designed to fix wall-paper. After completion of work, this material can be covered with finishing putty or paint.

The plaster mixture is divided into 2 types according to its intended purpose:

• for processing internal surfaces;
• for outside walls.

These types of plaster differ in the components that make up their composition. For exterior decoration, the mortar is prepared on the basis of cement, and for interior work, lime compositions are considered more suitable.

To eliminate cracks with a plaster composition, you need to prepare:

• capacity;
• trowel;
• graters of various sizes;
• brush for plastering;
• brush;
• trowel;
• water.

The plaster solution can be made independently or purchased ready-made. In the process of home cooking, it is necessary to monitor the consistency, because. too thin plaster will not adhere well. The process of sealing cracks looks like this:

1. Using a brush, the composition is applied to the damaged area, then leveled with a wooden grater.
2. If the plaster on the wall was applied by spraying, so that the treated area does not differ from the brush, you need to dip it into water and make patting movements on the surface.
3. The easiest way to eliminate shrinkage microcracks. They need to be treated with deep impregnation, which penetrates the structure of the coating and strengthens it. Then the cracks can be painted over with dispersion paint.

Mortar for cracks in a wall covered with plaster must contain fillers and a binder. Building gypsum, cement or building lime can be used as this element. The most durable is cement material. Indicators of its strength can be determined by marking; brand 400 is used for solutions.

Building gypsum will make the mixture more durable. This component accelerates the setting of the composition. It has a distinctive feature - it does not shrink. Building lime is used for outdoor work, since it dries only in the air.

How to cover up cracks in a drywall wall

Damage to the drywall material is formed due to several reasons:

1. The most common is considered a violation of technology during the installation of the frame and the installation of sheets.
2. The appearance of cracks can be provoked by improper puttying and sealing the seams between the sheets.
3. The causes of damage can also include sudden temperature changes in the room, increased humidity levels and contact with water.

Drywall does not have good resistance to moisture. When interacting with this factor, the sheets are deformed and retain this shape after drying. The only solution in this situation is to replace the material. There are two ways to get rid of cracks in drywall.

1. The first option involves filling the cracks with putty or acrylic.
2. The second method is to stick over the damaged area of ​​fiberglass. Then the surface must be puttied, after which you can proceed to the finishing coating.

The surface treatment process looks like this:

1. Before you repair a crack in the wall of the house, using a putty composition, it is necessary to remove a layer of plaster from the damaged area.
2. The dust is then removed with a vacuum cleaner.
3. Then you need to prepare the putty mixture in the following proportions: 2 parts powder 1 part liquid.
4. The resulting mass is applied in a layer of 2 mm with a spatula.
5. In addition to the crack, the nearest area should also be treated.
6. When using a reinforced tape, it must be placed in a slot and covered with a putty.
7. The putty dries within 1.5 hours.
8. Then it is recommended to clean it and remove dust from the wall.

Seal cracks in a concrete wall

The main reason for the appearance of defects in the concrete wall is the violation of the ratio of cement and water during the preparation of the cement-concrete composition. In the process of laying the mortar, it must be carefully compacted with vibrators. Non-compliance with the rules of care can also lead to the appearance of cracks. It is recommended to cover fresh concrete with a cloth to prevent excessive evaporation of moisture.

Of particular danger is the presence of cracks in the wall, which is in conditions of frequent temperature changes. At low temperatures, moisture enters the crack cavity, freezes and thereby increases the defect. Damage reaches the reinforcement, the corrosion process begins, which negatively affects the strength of the building. In order to detect defects in a timely manner, the structure must be regularly inspected. This will make it possible to eliminate cracks in the walls at the initial stage of development. Even minor defective changes in the concrete material cannot be ignored.

So, for work you will need:

• hammer;
• chisel;
• Grinder;
• putty knife;
• metal brush;
• brush;
• vacuum cleaner;
• rail made of wood material;
• trowel;
• water, sand, cement;
• adhesive composition;
• wire fragments;
• trowel.

The workflow takes place in the following sequence:

1. Using a hammer and chisel, the crack must be expanded to a depth of 5 mm. This will help prevent the repair compound from falling out.
2. Next, the damaged area is cleaned of dust and moistened. Use a sponge to remove excess moisture.
3. If reinforcement is visible, it must be treated with an anti-corrosion agent.
4. The mixture is prepared on the basis of sand and cement, the ratio is 3:1. PVA can be added to the composition.
5. If the defects are deep, they should be filled in stages, moistening each layer of the repair mixture.
6. If necessary, the crack is reinforced with wire fragments.
7. Then the surface must be leveled, for this a trowel is used.
8. After the composition has hardened, the protruding zones are corrected with a grinder.

Conclusion

When planning wall repairs, sealing cracks should be a prerequisite. This defect not only negatively affects the appearance of the building, but also threatens its strength. Today, the walls of houses are constructed from various materials, each of which requires an individual approach when eliminating cracks.

How to fix a crack in a wall. Video: