How to repair cracks in the wall of an apartment at home? A crack has appeared in the wall of the house: what to do? The outer wall of the house was cracked.

During a major or cosmetic repairs It is very useful to know how to repair a crack in a wall, because without rough preparation, further work is useless. Even a small crack requires special attention, since over time it will increase, leading to serious consequences. When starting to eliminate a crack, it is important to take into account its width and depth, the material of the wall, since the methods and tools used in each individual case may differ. In addition, after eliminating the defect, the restored surface must be properly cared for.

Required tools and materials

To seal cracks you will need the following material:

• wood glue in the consistency of thin sour cream, mixed with tooth powder or chalk chips;
• strips of cotton fabric, gauze, medical bandage, soaked in PVA glue (they can be replaced with fiberglass tape);
• cement mortar mixed with paint prevents moisture penetration;
• lime-cement mortar reinforced with mesh;
• sandpaper for grouting;
• primer;
• sealant;
• putty mixture;
• polyurethane foam;
• plaster for finishing.

Preparation of cement mortar for sealing gaps, cracks, seams

Tools you will need:

1. brush;
2. brush;
3. putty knife;
4. construction mixer;
5. foam sponge;
6. gun for sealant and polyurethane foam.

In some cases, the work will additionally require a hammer, chisel and a hammer drill with attachments.

How to repair a crack: types of mixtures

In order to choose what to cover cracks in the wall with, you need to take into account the features of the coating:

How to dilute the solution yourself

Cracks in walls can occur both outside and inside the building. Therefore, there are two main types of mortar - plaster for external and internal work.

I. Mortar for sealing cracks outside the building

Restoring the integrity of the surface of the walls outside the building is carried out using cement mortar plaster. It is prepared as follows: use cement and sand in a ratio of 1 to 3, add PVA glue, dilute with water to a medium-thick consistency. You can use ready-made dry solutions, which just need to be diluted with water in the ratio indicated on the package.

II. Interior solution

For interior work use mortar: lime and sand are mixed in a ratio of 1 to 4, diluted with water. The consistency should be such that when thrown onto the wall, the mixture forms a dense “pancake” and not a lump.

Using polyurethane foam

Large gaps in walls, for example, made of brickwork, can be sealed using polyurethane foam. The gap is first cleared of debris, filled with primer, then foam. When the polyurethane foam “sets,” it is cut to a depth of about 20 mm, and cement mortar or adhesive is placed in this gap.

Foam is also used to seal through cracks in temporary buildings.

What nuances do you need to know when using polyurethane foam to repair cracks?

When working with polyurethane foam, you should remember that too much of it leads to an increase in the crack, and its remains should not stick out out of the gap. It is added not as a single filling, but in stages, for those areas where it is not enough. Excess foam is cut off, the gap is waterproofed, and the outside is covered cement mortar, and the inside is plastered.

Foaming a large gap between the wall and the ceiling

Crack sealing method

Repairing cracks in walls is carried out using different methods, depending on the type of surface. Let's look at the details of eliminating gaps on surfaces made of various materials.

In brickwork

Sealing cracks in brick walls carried out different ways, depending on the size of the damage. If the width of the defect is up to 5 mm, you can get rid of it using cement mortar or regular tile adhesive. The gap is widened with a spatula or hammer and cleaned of dirt. The gap is treated with a primer, then filled with cement or adhesive mortar.

To eliminate cracks 10-15 mm wide, a cement-based solution is also used, but with the addition of fine sand. Sickle tape is glued over the repaired area and putty is applied.

In a plastered wall

Plaster can crack both outside and inside the house. In any case, the restoration procedure begins with widening the cracks and deepening them with a spatula or a sharp knife. Next, the gap is cleaned of contaminants and primed with a deep penetration solution. When the primer has dried, the plaster mixture is placed inside the gap to its entire depth. Without waiting for the solution to dry, reinforcing tape is glued over the crack and covered with plaster. For repairs, it is recommended to use a gypsum mixture.

When the plaster layer dries, it is rubbed with sandpaper for complete leveling.

On sheets of drywall

Cracks in drywall may appear due to too thick a layer of plaster applied or damage thermal regime when it dries. Vertical and horizontal cracks occur at the joints between sheets due to weakening of the metal frame of the wall or the absence of reinforcing tape.

In the first case, the cracks form a “web”. To get rid of it, you need to remove the damaged layer of plaster and apply a new one, but no more than 2 mm thick. Each layer of plaster must dry thoroughly.

In the second case, you need to carry out a number of actions:

1. Use a sharp knife to widen the cracks at a 45-degree angle.
2. Fill the gaps with gypsum mortar.
3. Apply reinforcing tape over the filled crack.
4. The surface is leveled with plaster and sanded with an abrasive mesh before applying a decorative coating.

In a concrete wall

Cement mortar is used to fill gaps on concrete walls. The surface is prepared, cleaned of dirt, and residues are removed. old plaster, then the cracks are carefully filled with solution. Experts often recommend that before filling a gap with cement mortar, lubricate its internal cavity with PVA glue.

In case of large defects and through cracks, the cracks are filled with mounting foam, sealed from the inside with gypsum mortar, and from the outside - cement-sand plaster. Defects less than 5 mm wide can be sealed with sealant.

What to do if the crack is long and deep

How to repair a crack in a wall if it is deep? Slots wider than 15 mm are considered dangerous because... may cause wall destruction. If such gaps appear on brickwork, defective area dismantled and replaced with new masonry. In this case, the bricks are laid in a special, interlocking way, strengthening the rows with pieces of reinforcement.

New masonry will help such a crack

You can protect the wall from destruction due to significant cracks by installing lintels or making metal reinforcement. This method is effective for monolithic concrete walls: metal corners They are tightened with long bolts; sometimes it is necessary to install reinforcing belts along the entire perimeter of the room or building. The reinforcing belt is installed before sealing a crack in the wall - under the roof, above the foundation, sometimes in several rows.

Such a crack should be sealed with foam, cement, reinforced with a reinforcing belt

A wide and deep gap in drywall can be filled with gypsum plaster

How long does it take for the solution to dry?

Proceed to finishing Walls can only be painted after the repair mortar has completely dried. Drying time depends on the material used. Gypsum plaster dries in about three days. The cement-lime mortar will need from 24 hours to two days. The cement mortar dries for 24 hours, and for facade plaster It will only take 8 hours.

When the material dries, special conditions must be created to prevent repeated cracking: air temperature not higher than +25C, absence of drafts and direct sunlight.

Finishing

The final finishing after repairing cracks and cracks is carried out after the solution has completely dried. The dried mixture is sanded well, leveling it with the rest of the wall surface. Then the primer is applied until it stops being absorbed into the restored surface area. After this you can start decorative finishing– painting, wallpapering, applying textured plaster, etc.

Consistency finishing putty should be dense, but not too thick

How to care for a restored wall

A wall restored after repair must, first of all, be protected from various mechanical influences– do not move the furniture too close to it, hammer nails into the places where the cracks have been repaired, and protect it from being hit by the door.

You need to wipe the walls carefully so as not to damage the decorative layer of the coating. If the decorative coating is durable, it will be able to protect the wall from various influences that could cause repeated cracking, provided that the crack was repaired efficiently and the plaster was completely dry before decorative finishing work. Therefore, methods such as coating with colorless varnish are used decorative plaster, applying waterproof paint to the surface of the walls, using wooden, plastic, gypsum panels, non-woven wallpaper.

Videos on repairing cracks in walls

The main stages of sealing a crack in a plastered wall in a video:

You can find out what materials to use to cover cracks from this video:

The appearance of cracks on the facade of a house or inside it can be caused by various reasons: shrinkage of the foundation, improper rough finishing, disruption of the bricklaying process, the use of low-quality or inappropriate materials, and many others. It is important to notice their appearance in time and take all necessary measures to eliminate defects. A fine network of cracks in the plaster is usually not associated with the danger of wall destruction, but in any case, the process of the appearance of new gaps must be controlled, as well as the increase in their size

Cracks in the walls of buildings can appear suddenly, and not only in old houses, but also in new buildings, panel and brick. This, of course, is not the norm, but there is no need to panic about it. It is better to sensibly assess the scale and understand how dangerous the destruction is in order to determine how to eliminate it. All cracks are divided into two types:

• Passive– if the cracking occurred simultaneously and does not go further, in this case you can eliminate the defect yourself;
• Active– if a crack in the wall of a house expands or lengthens over time, there is a risk of the wall or building collapsing, in this case you need to call specialists from the specialized service, who will make a decision.

Causes of cracks in walls

There are dozens of reasons why a building deforms and, as a consequence, serious faults or “spider webs” appear. They are called various factors, but the most common is problems with the foundation. It is also the most dangerous and difficult, since in some cases you have to redo everything anew, or somehow strengthen the foundation, and this is often not easy.

So, let’s look in detail at why cracks appear on the walls in various buildings, whether to worry, and how to repair them.

Why do wall cracks occur so often in new homes?

Cracking of new buildings is a fairly common phenomenon. 9 out of 10 houses may crack in a few years due to shrinkage, but, as a rule, cracks on the walls in a new house are small and passive, and after sealing there are no problems.

Experts do not recommend making major renovations in the first year and a half, and if your apartment is on the lower floors, and many people will be doing renovations on top, you should wait a little longer. The fact is that all the neighbors above will “add” weight to the structure with plaster and finishing, which means the house will shrink even more noticeably.

Small cracks on the walls in a new house do not seem to be terrible, but they can lead to tiles falling off, wallpaper deformation and similar problems. It is better to wait with finishing than to redo everything again. In addition, small “cobwebs” under the wallpaper will not be noticeable, and it is advisable to repair it as soon as it appears.

Why did a crack appear in the wall of a house that no longer shrinks?

In more lived-in and seemingly strong houses, cracks can appear completely unexpectedly, and usually they are what frighten residents the most. The reasons in this case can be very different.

• Violation of construction technology, in which the dressing of the brick wall was incorrectly performed. Long years everything is fine, and then a fault appears, which is also difficult to repair.
• Violation of communication technology. It happens that first a house is built, and then communications are brought in, as a result of which the foundation is dug up - this is one of the common causes of horizontal cracks in the wall.
• The foundation may settle and by itself, for example, due to an incorrectly calculated load or insufficiently competent design without specialized calculations. Owners of private houses often suffer from this because they do not conduct geodetic surveys, do not study the soil characteristics, and choose the wrong type of foundation. Causes of cracks in walls can also include improperly placed sand under the foundation, or groundwater not taken into account during construction.

Why did a crack appear on the wall of the old house?

In old houses that have stood for decades without problems, sudden cracking can occur due to new construction taking place nearby, digging a pit nearby, or vibrations occurring when installing piles or re-laying a road. Often problems arise due to unsuccessful, ill-conceived redevelopment, when the new owner demolishes load-bearing supports, or illegal construction of basements and subfloors, as a result of which the load shifts and the foundation suffers. A crack in the outer wall of a house also occurs due to the fact that the mortar can crumble over time, and if floors were added to the house or it was extended, the problem can become critical.

Problem with a crack in the load-bearing wall at the base of the building

Another common answer to the question, why do cracks appear on walls? – ill-conceived redevelopments, especially on the ground and first floors. This happens when residential apartments are converted into non-residential buildings, shops or service establishments are installed, and at the same time load-bearing walls are affected. The load on those remaining is greater, and the house is destroyed from the inside, and the residents of the upper floors are usually the first to notice the problem.

It is usually impossible to resolve the issue with the owners of the premises, so if cracks appear on interior walls, and at the same time below there are offices or retail premises, it is necessary to contact the relevant authorities to check the condition of the building.

Types of cracks in walls

You can try to determine the cause of cracking yourself, focusing on the direction of the fault: vertical, horizontal, in the corner. In brick walls, the direction may be broken, but the general trend is usually visible.

• Vertical cracks. In the middle part of the building, thermal deformation may occur if there is a problem with expansion joints. In places of supports and beams - due to overloading of the walls (this is very dangerous). The reason may also be a weak foundation, as a result of which one part of the building settles differently.
• Horizontal cracks on the wall of the house can be caused by subsidence of the foundation in its central part, and moisture entering the walls and foundation. They are less dangerous for the structure as a whole, but it is necessary to check the quality of the insulation. The causes of horizontal cracks in the wall are usually less dangerous, and the building collapses more slowly than with vertical ones. But it is also more difficult to fasten the structure; serious measures may be required to correct the situation.
• In the corner of the wall destruction can occur due to flooding of the foundation, this often happens when moisture drips from the roof into this corner. Microcracks are usually harmless, although they are more difficult to repair.

In any case, if there is a crack in the wall of the house, you should call specialists who will determine the cause and scale of the problem.

What kind of cracks in the walls of a house are dangerous?

A fine web of cracks is generally not dangerous, no matter where it is located. But in any case, it is better to control this process.

To determine the danger, that is, the future divergence of the wall, various beacons are used. In domestic conditions, to control a crack in a wall inside a house, you can use paper or plaster, which is applied to the crack at its different ends, and possibly in the middle. If the line is broken, you will need to apply beacons to all areas. Be sure to write down the installation date next to it.

It happens that it is not possible to install a beacon on an external wall yourself if the fault occurs on high floors. In addition, plaster and paper simply will not withstand weather conditions, and a gypsum beacon can generally crack due to temperature changes. There are other options for beacons, which are available to specialized specialists, and are suitable for external monitoring.

If over the course of 8-12 months a crack in the outer wall of a house or inside it has not changed or enlarged, it can be considered passive, stable, and can be repaired.

If the beacon was deformed or collapsed, be sure to call specialists, this means that the process is active and measures need to be taken.

Crack in the wall of a house: what to do and how to repair it

There are many ways to solve the problem, and the choice of a particular one depends on the characteristics of the fault and its development. Keep in mind: if a large crack in the wall quickly spreads and the beacons are destroyed, you are unlikely to cope on your own; you may have to fasten the house with metal plates, raise the building to adjust the foundation, strengthen it, put supports instead of load-bearing walls, etc.

Crack in the outer wall

Small stable cracks are cleaned of plaster and finishing, a deep penetration primer is applied, and the entire crack is covered with a putty mesh so that it reliably covers the edges. Putty is applied on top, which is better reinforced, as it will withstand temperature changes and exposure to weather conditions.

Cracks in the brick are sealed using a metal mesh for plaster, which is secured with bolts. A layer of mortar (cement + sand) is applied to it.

A large crack in the wall is filled with polyurethane foam, but first you need to widen and clean it, perhaps rinse it with water and dry it so that more solution gets inside. There are various attachments for the cylinders, so that even difficult bends can be sealed.

Cracks in concrete are also cleaned, blown out with foam and sealed with a cement-sand mixture.

Crack in the corner of the wall

It especially often occurs at the joints of slabs, and if it is a corner of the house, then it can blow noticeably from it. It is sealed either with polyurethane foam and then plastered, or a system of metal plates is used; the entire house, if the problem is serious, or part of it can be pulled together.

In multi-storey buildings, you have to do everything from the inside, or order insulation along with sealing cracks. If the crack is large, it must be deepened and thoroughly cleaned, preferably with a construction vacuum cleaner, or at least with a brush, and the foam is applied to the primer that has not yet dried.

Wall cracks inside the house

A small cobweb that formed as a result of shrinkage of new buildings, can be easily covered up: you will need a putty mesh and a deep penetration primer. A primer is applied to the cleaned wall with the coating removed, covered with a mesh, and sealed with putty. Then, after drying, the surface can be rubbed and painted, or covered with wallpaper. It's better to wait a little to make sure the problem doesn't happen again.

If there is a crack in the wall concrete house, it needs to be expanded, creating 45-degree angles, and primed well. Sealing is carried out either with concrete mortar or sealant. The sealant is better because it is a little “rubbery,” which means that future movements will be compensated and the crack will not expand. Do not use silicone-based sealant, as nothing sticks to it and it will be difficult to paint over or wallpaper it later. A crack in the wall of a house can also be sealed with any cement-based mixtures, for example, tile adhesive, or plaster. You can use an emulsion to which cement is added, or there is even more a budget option– PVA glue and cement. This mixture can be applied with a spatula, and special guns are used for the sealant to help squeeze it out of the tube. The remaining mixture is removed with a spatula flush with the wall.

Cracks in a plasterboard wall usually appear due to excess humidity, dampness, or improper installation. If flooding occurs, the sheets need to be changed; in other cases, you can save the situation using a special putty for drywall, or use acrylic (sold in the same tubes as sealant). Another option is to glue fiberglass; it is more reliable, although more expensive and labor-intensive. All these methods can be used only in case of high-quality fastening plasterboard sheet to the wall, if it does not wobble, otherwise you need to change the sheet itself.

Vertical and horizontal cracks on the wall brick houses are sealed up different ways, depending on the depth and nature of the fault. In any case, if the crack is active, seal it in simple ways there is no point, since it will continue to grow. Repair only makes sense when the fault has stopped and been stable for several months. Small cracks on internal brick walls are sealed with cement mortar, but if the crack is larger than 7-10 mm, you need to widen it with a hammer (for better adhesion of the mortar) and seal it with a mixture of cement and sand. A crack larger than 10mm requires professional intervention, regardless of whether it is expanding or not.

Crack in the wall of a house: what to do if the wall is load-bearing?

You can repair cracks yourself only if the crack is small and does not expand. In this case, the same technologies are used as when repairing small damage in a brick wall. But it is important to understand that a fault in a load-bearing wall can lead to the collapse of the entire building, so it is worth contacting specialists. They will check the condition of the building and find out why the cracks in the wall appeared in the first place: perhaps the neighbors did a redevelopment somewhere, or something happened in the basement of the building, and it urgently needs to be strengthened, water pumped out, the roof raised and the load reduced.

Crack in a load-bearing wall is always very dangerous, so you should not delay it, especially if it is active and expanding. It is already possible to identify a dangerous fault in a day or two, placing a simple plaster or paper beacon, and checking its safety and absence of deformation. In any case, it's better to be safe.

Through cracks in the walls

Most dangerous look cracking, in which the building can be considered unsafe. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, but most often there are problems with the foundation or extension, or construction work ongoing nearby.

To seal through cracks in the walls, a lime-cement mortar is used; if the crack is large, brick fragments can be added to it. Formwork may be needed to hold the mortar in place until it hardens completely.

Sometimes they use metal plates made of durable material, and at least three strips will be needed, sometimes more. They are secured with bolts and dowels. After fixing, a specialist’s decision is required - if a crack appears in the wall of the house, then the problem is already quite serious. The crack can be repaired from the inside with polyurethane foam, but in any case, the cause must be eliminated.

Conclusion

If a crack appears in the wall of the house, evaluate it the crack is growing, visually (in the case of “cobweb” cracks) or using a beacon. For sealing different types walls are used various materials and technology, but in case the crack is growing or is itself large, it is better to consult with specialists. Minor repairs can be done independently, but only if the fault is stable and there is no reason to believe that in the future cracks in the walls of buildings can lead to emergency situation.

Anastasia Bezdenezhnykh

Melwood company expert

Spent 449 construction expertise, 94 forensic examinations

In company with 2014 of the year

A cracked wall should not be treated carelessly. A crack in the wall of a house is a consequence of a violation of the technology for constructing the foundation or walls. After reading our short educational program, you will learn how to correctly determine the cause of cracks based on indirect signs. And, as a result, you can quickly eliminate the mistake, avoiding further complications.

Causes of cracks

Due to the movement of soil layers, the entire building tilts in one direction or the other, but in general the building is held tightly and monolithically, thanks to a massive and strong base. And this is precisely what is frightening: if cracks appear on the wall, it means that the foundation is not fulfilling its function.

Meanwhile, there are a number of reasons due to which cracks can form without destroying the base. And if the foundation is not rigid enough or the supporting soils do not evenly accept the load, the tape will bend more than the walls can withstand. We can safely say that cracks appear due to imperfections in the building design, design errors or shortcomings during construction.

Cracks may be the result of errors in design, construction or improper operation of the building

The root cause is the fact that the soil layer under the foundation is heterogeneous. In high-density areas, the pressure is greater, causing the building to rest on just a few points and deform under its own weight. main feature is that the density of sites can vary significantly over time or depending on weather conditions. Due to freezing, soil heaves occurs; when wet, it becomes too soft; geological, seismic and geomorphological factors less often come into play.

Simply repairing or hiding a crack is not enough; you should find out the cause of its formation and only then begin restoration.

How to determine the cause of a crack

When cracks are first detected, it is necessary to begin close monitoring of their development, simultaneously recording temperature changes and the presence of precipitation during this period. To have the most complete understanding of cracking patterns, it is helpful to keep a detailed log throughout the year.

To visualize changes in the width of cracks, small lumps of alabaster, soaked to the consistency of plasticine, are attached to them. Beacons are installed along the entire length of the crack every meter. By checking the marks periodically, for example after a month, two, and so on, we can draw a conclusion about the nature of the damage:

1. If the mark has cracked or fallen off, it means the crack is continuing to expand. The gap in the mark can be used to judge the speed of divergence.
2. If the mark is cracked, there is no gap, the wall is subjected to dynamic loads, but there is no longer any tension in the material, and no further discrepancies are observed.
3. If the mark remains intact, it means there is no stress in the wall. The crack was the result of one-time shrinkage.

To obtain more accurate information, observations are continued over a long period, and damaged tags are replaced with new ones, recording the previous result.

Any hard but brittle material that can detect the slightest deformation of the base can be used as marks.

The shape of the cracks can say a lot about the nature of the movement. If the fracture site is smooth, the edge is sharp and has no chips, then the crack has expanded and simply torn the lighthouse. If the edges of the crack on the lighthouse have chipped edges, or it has fallen off completely, most likely, the crack, on the contrary, has decreased, and the lighthouse has collapsed from compression.

The special shape of the tags and beacons helps to identify the most minor fluctuations

By projecting these changes onto the geometric model of the house and foundation, you can determine with high accuracy how settlement occurs over time, whether it depends on the wetness of the ground during rain, where there are places of high and low density.

And yet, the most complete information can only be provided by a comprehensive analysis performed by specialists based on an examination, which includes:

• control of the strength of supporting structures;
• analysis of supporting soils;
• identifying hidden cracks or uneven load distribution.

Ultimately, with your own observations or with outside help, it will be possible to draw up an action plan to strengthen the foundation and walls of the building and eliminate cracks.

We eliminate the cause, get rid of the crack

The most dangerous case is when the crack continues to expand. This indicates that the walls of the building or the foundation will be irreparably damaged. The problem can be radically solved only by completely rebuilding the damaged section of the building. However, if you notice the problem in time, a much less radical method will help - covering the house.

Everything is done quite simply:

1. Steel corners with a 100 mm flange are installed at the outer corners.
2. On crutches, at least two lines of smooth reinforcement are laid along the walls - upper and lower.
3. A thread is cut on each rod: left on one side, right on the other. Nuts are screwed onto the reinforcement and welded to the corners.
4. A meter from the corner, on the side of the reinforcing bars, a small parallel rod is welded so that rotation can be transmitted with a regular adjustable wrench.
5. During final tightening, two people twist the bar simultaneously, gradually increasing the tension.

In this case, the cracks literally melt before our eyes, all that remains is to replace the protective plaster of the walls and base, reinforcing it with steel mesh.

An example of tightening a building along the plinth

It is possible that the markers on the crack will remain intact for a long time or the gap will constantly expand and contract, but overall not increase. This is a clear sign that the foundation is working normally, and that there were initially excess stresses in the wall material, which resulted in a crack.

To strengthen the wall in a problem area use:

• external reinforcement with carbon fiber, steel mesh;
• anchors and metal frames;
• embedded reinforcing elements along grooves;
• injection method.

It is important to close the crack and restore the strength of the structure. If the cause was improper ligation of brick rows, then it is quite possible that the only effective means There will be a complete or partial re-lining of the wall in the emergency area.

Laying reinforcement in the grooves helps to contain further deformations

Massive reinforcement with an external frame with anchor fastening to the wall

Strengthening walls with external carbon fiber reinforcement

Repairing cracks using the injection method

To seal any cracks, it is necessary to clean it along its entire length and depth from dirt, dust, remove the layer of mortar and base material, expanding it to 15 mm or more. The resulting gap is filled with mortar, having previously been reinforced using one of the methods listed above.

Heaving as a result of soil soaking

To prevent the soil under the foundation from becoming oversaturated with moisture, a blind area is installed around the house and the drainage pipes are pulled as far away as possible. However, over time, the screed may collapse, and rainwater will seep directly under the foundation, washing it away.

Typically, a sign of such a phenomenon is the gradual expansion of cracks, which occurs mainly during heavy rainfall or some time after it. It is typical for such phenomena that cracks seem to “split off” the corners of the house, passing through the nearest window openings.

Frost heaving can destroy the foundation of a house

The foundation continues to remain intact, but the overall tilt of the building may increase from year to year. In addition, no one knows how much the next shrinkage will occur and how this will affect the integrity concrete base. Heaving due to high humidity can also occur due to rising water.

Will help solve the problem qualitatively drainage system collected around the perimeter of the building for drainage groundwater and overhead water away from the foundation. It is necessary to expose the foundation to the base, lay drainage pipe onto the prepared sand and gravel cushion around the perimeter of the foundation and divert it to the side. To discharge water, you will need to prepare a drainage well or run a pipe to the nearest body of water.

Drainage for drainage of groundwater from atmospheric precipitation and melt water from the base of the foundation

A wide blind area will not allow precipitation to flow under the foundation

An obligatory step to eliminate the problem is the restoration of the cement blind area and its expansion. Typically, for a shallow strip foundation, a blind area of ​​about 40-60 cm wide is sufficient, and for buried foundations - up to one and a half meters. It would also not be superfluous to install ebb tides and reset rainwater 4-5 meters from the house.

What to do if the problem is in the foundation

If no measures are successful, you will have to look for the problem in the foundation. A prerequisite for this may be not only the visible formation of a crack in the exposed area, but also the general structural unsuitability of the base, causing insufficient rigidity.

Local foundation faults should be repaired immediately. First, a dig is made to a depth of 60-100 cm under the bottom edge of the tape and up to 2 meters wide. A pedestal reinforced with reinforcement is poured under the fracture site, after which the pit dries, the pit is expanded another meter in each direction and topped up again.

Strengthening the foundation with piles

Do not forget that the reason may be an initial miscalculation in the design of the house or failure to comply with the requirements during construction:

• the properties of supporting soils are not taken into account;
• the foundation depth is incorrectly selected to the actual freezing depth;
• the width of the foundation is not enough for real loads, etc.

Strengthening the foundation by additionally pouring reinforced concrete around the perimeter of the building

If cracks appear in the foundation and walls of the house, then you should immediately take measures to strengthen the foundation, for example, screw piles, side or bottom grout. It is possible to determine which method of reinforcement is required only by relying on data from construction expertise and the preparation of the appropriate project, which is best left to professional designers.

Minor defects can be corrected yourself if they are related to the plaster. If the appearance is associated with deformation of the main structure, then you need to seek help from specialists.

Exterior materials for cracks

• Neomid Professional ─ universal putty. For deep cracks and potholes. Contains reinforcing fibers.
• SEMIN Fibrelastic ─ elastic putty for external and internal work. Especially for “breathing” cracks and joints.
• Profix ─ mounting and putty mixture. This is a flexible putty with easy application.

Crack mixtures for interior work

• SEMIN Rebouchage ─ filling putty for interior work.
• UNIS High-thickness ─ gypsum putty. Universal, easy to apply, crack-resistant. Warranty up to 15 years.
• TERRACO Handyflex ─ super elastic crack filler.

DIY repair

Often during repair work you have to deal with unpleasant defects. They are discovered while re-sticking wallpaper or leveling a wall for painting. You can deal with minor flaws yourself. When there are more defects outside than inside the house, it makes the job more difficult. Of course, it is difficult to deal with the cause, but you can try to hide this defect.

Puttying cracks in a monolithic house

To “cure” defects in monolithic walls, you will need the appropriate tools and materials:

• sealing composition (sealant, foam) and concrete solution;
• putty knife;
• sanding mesh and holder for it;
• brush with stiff bristles;
• jointing tool.

First you need to widen the flaw by beating the edges with a hammer for better adhesion of the crack to the putty. Clean the defect from dust and pour sealant into it, then level the seam with concrete mortar. What to cover with? You can, of course, use only the solution, but the sealing compound will not allow it to appear anymore. After drying, you need to sand any unevenness well.

What is the best way to cover up cracks in a load-bearing block wall?

Smooth cracks appear on the masonry when it is not reinforced. There are several putty options for wall repair. Let's look at some ways to eliminate the defect.

1 way:

• clean and, if necessary, expand the crack;
• clean from dust;
• using metal E-shaped anchors secured with dowels, strengthen the crack between the blocks;
• add pieces of broken cinder block to the solution (the smaller the better) and plaster the defect.

Method 2

• widen the crack;
• prime;
• seal with mortar.

For small cracks, it is permissible to use tile adhesive, mounting foam or special foam for blocks.

If there is a straight crack in the corners, how to fix it correctly

A straight corner crack must first be opened, primed with a tenacious “Soil-Contact” primer and the seam sealed. To do this, take the Isogypsum putty on a spatula and rub it well into the flaw. Place a mesh on top of the putty. After drying, smooth out all uneven surfaces.

Repairing cracks in brickwork: how to remove them

• Repairing cracks in brickwork begins with removing dirt, dust, chipped bricks, fallen mortar and other unnecessary elements.
• It is good to wet the crack, since the base of the brick tends to absorb water. By throwing the solution, it will penetrate deeper into the crack.
• Cover the wide part of the defect with mortar, and fill the narrow part with sealant from a “gun”.
• Since the sealant is white and the solution is gray, the crack needs to be given an aesthetic appearance. To do this, apply tile adhesive with a spatula. It tolerates temperature changes well, is frost-resistant, and moisture-resistant.
• After drying building material, rub the seam, smooth out the unevenness.

Repairing cracks in the concrete wall of a panel house with cement mortar

• First, check the condition of the crack, widen it with a hammer and chisel.
• Use a compressor to blow off all the dirt.
• Depending on the brand of cement, prepare a solution. To do this, mix sand, cement, water, beat until mushy.
• Lubricate the defect with PVA glue for better adhesion of the crack to the solution.
• Fill the hole with mortar to the level of the wall.
• Smooth out the seam.
• After drying, clean up.

If there are cracks in a new house, how to repair them

• Use a special tool to widen the crack.
• Clean it from dust.
• to improve the adhesion of the putty.
• Seal the seam with putty using a putty knife.
• To prevent recurrence of formations, glue with sickle tape.
• Hold the top of the tape with one spatula, and smooth the tape with the second.
• Reapply putty and allow time to dry.
• After 24 hours, sand the surface of the seam.

Walls are vertical load-bearing and enclosing structures. They withstand force and non-force impacts. Therefore, they must be strong, durable, and withstand temperature and humidity conditions.

What to follow when repairing cracks: main rules

So that the load-bearing capacities and enclosing properties of the walls are preserved long time, you need to be guided by " General recommendations on crack repair technology."

Repair of cracks is carried out after drawing up a map of defects and a defect list, which confirm the results of the examination and the reasons for their occurrence.

When choosing unpleasant formations, you need to consider:

• wall material;
• number of flaws;
• defect width;
• branching of flaws;

Only then carry out repair work:

• embroider;
• clean from dust;
• Rinse;
• fill with suitable plaster.

If you notice a crack in the house, you need to monitor its changes: whether it expands or remains the same. When design changes have occurred, you need to seek advice from specialists. Only they will be able to professionally assess the condition of the surface and recommend measures to prevent and eliminate them.

Useful video on the topic

The question is how to repair cracks in a wall apartments or how to cover up cracks in a wall, oddly enough, most often worries the happy owners of new homes.

Absolutely all developers, for obvious reasons, want to sell the built houses and apartments to their clients as quickly as possible. At the same time, almost always, after moving into a new home, happy buyers are faced with certain shortcomings, shortcomings or defects.

Quite often such manifested defects are small or large cracks on the main structures. In many cases, they do not pose a threat to the integrity of the structure or the safety of the occupants, but they must be repaired and corrected.

Theoretically, when buying a new house or apartment, you should be sure that all the main elements of the housing structure will be in good condition, without any damage, defects or cracks. However, practice often shows something completely different.

Increasingly, when buying an apartment, we encounter various minor damages, such as cracks and scratches on walls, ceilings and floors. More often this happens because it runs too fast plastering works before the required moisture level has been reached and the foundation itself has fully settled and stabilized.

Whatever the walls of your home are: brick, plaster, concrete or panel, the formation of cracks often has the same reasons.

Long-term construction of housing, especially such a complex one as a multi-story building or apartment building quite natural. In some cases, a good builder will recommend allowing the building frame to stand in its raw state for one season.

That is, the foundation, walls, ceilings and roof are made in one year, and only in the next year are they produced Finishing work. This is a very good practice because between jobs there is time for the building to shrink sufficiently. This significantly reduces the risk of mini deformations and cracks.

Cracks in an apartment are not such a rare occurrence when buying or building a new home

In a word first and most common reason- this is the natural shrinkage of a newly constructed building. Unfortunately, most developers want to sell completed apartments and houses as quickly as possible. Even the customers themselves rarely agree to extend the construction period due to the need to wait out the winter.

Another reason for the appearance of cracks may be poorly carried out geodetic work. Mandatory geological research soil before the start of any construction guarantees the expected result for each homeowner. As a consequence of this, or as a separate cause, is non-compliance with the specific soil of the structure or foundation materials.

Geological soil research involves drilling at least 2-3 wells and examining the soil, of course, even before the start of designing a house. This procedure will protect you from many unpleasant surprises in the future, such as unstable soils or high level groundwater.

Cracks often appear as linear damage to the surface along the entire height of the wall or as transverse cracks. Before starting repairs, carefully check the condition of the underlying coating around the repair site.

Important: When starting work, you must be sure that the expansion of the crack, its growth has stopped. You should not eliminate defects whose development has not yet stopped if the wall crack is creeping. Don't do double work. The cause must be identified and eliminated.

Also, before you begin to repair a crack with your own hands, you should look into the purchase and sale agreement or contract work and decide on the guarantee. It is necessary to accurately record the condition of all walls and ceilings at the time of receipt of the apartment or acceptance of the house.

2. How to repair a crack in plaster on a wall

If you need to repair a crack in a plastered surface, you only need to follow a few simple steps. However, this may also be cement-sand and gypsum and lime plaster. To do this you will need the following tools and materials:

• Large and small spatula
• Brush
• Sponge
• Sandpaper
• Primer
• Putty (repair compound)
• Reinforcing mesh (in some cases)

Crack expansion and cleaning

The correct solution is to remove paint, if any, and plaster in the immediate vicinity of the repair site, in order to more thoroughly introduce the new filler into the crack, and more tightly contact it with the base material. Extension can be done using a wire brush and a small spatula.

Expanding a crack using a metal spatula and then cleaning its edges is one of the necessary steps repairs

The next step is to carefully crack cleaning from dirt and dust. This is very important, because even a minimal amount of foreign elements significantly reduces the connection of the leveling mixture with the base material.

Then it is necessary to apply a primer into the crack, which will increase the overall adhesion of the surface. The composition of the primer is selected based on the putty material and the main structural element.

Remove dust from the crack using a brush or vacuum cleaner and apply a primer to obtain optimal adhesion.

Filling, leveling and sanding the crack

Use a small trowel to initially fill the crack with repair mortar, and only then level the surface with a wide trowel. For such wall repairs, a flexible spatula made of of stainless steel or a plastic spatula with a rubber end.

How to seal the crack? How to cover cracks in the wall? To repair small cracks a few millimeters wide, it is recommended to use ready-made polymer putty. It is sold in plastic containers and after opening it is immediately ready for use, without the need for stirring.

In addition to polymer putty, you can use gypsum putty, cement-based mixture or acrylic paint sealant. All these materials are comparable in the quality of the result obtained when eliminating minor damage, but differ in price and the need for preliminary preparation.

The ideal option would be to choose a filler that forms the basis of the surface of the wall being repaired, although the use of non-identical compositions, contrary to some opinions, is not critical. This means that small cracks on the wall in cement-based plaster can be easily repaired with a composition based on gypsum or polymer putty or PVA-based putty.

Important: do not forget to clean the spatulas from possible contamination before use. Use only clean tools. Any dirt or dry material left on the spatula may prevent the surface from being even and smooth.

You should not apply putty in one layer if the crack is deeper than 2-3 mm. If you need to repair deeper damage, perform the work in two or even three stages, since almost any material has a tendency to shrink.

When repairing a surface with a crack more than 2 mm wide, it is possible to use a special fiberglass mounting tape

For complete confidence in the quality of the work result, it is possible use of special mounting tape which is glued over the crack filled with the selected composition after it has completely dried. After this, the top of the tape is again covered with the same solution, which is leveled with a spatula.

This tape takes on some of the stress that arises during the process of gaining and releasing moisture. separate materials, for example plaster. In most cases, the formation of cracks on traditional plastered surfaces is sufficient to simply fill them, without the use of additional elements.

After the repaired area has completely dried, it is necessary to carry out work on grinding the surface sandpaper with a grit size of about 100-150. It is optimal to use a hand grinder, however, simply hand grouting is also possible. At this point, the question of how to repair cracks in the wall of an apartment can be considered resolved.

Acrylic sealant is indispensable for many repair work, thanks to its excellent adhesion to most materials: brick, concrete, stone, plastic, plaster. Apply manually using an air gun.

If you decide to use for work paint acrylic sealant, then the technology differs only in the method of introducing the repair solution into the crack. Painting acrylic is a plastic-elastic, modified sealant based on aqueous acrylic dispersion.

It can serve as a leveling material for any surface, and is ideal as a base for subsequent ceilings or seams. And this the fastest way to seal cracks on painted walls.

Acrylic sealant is ideal for masking imperfections and defects in concrete, brickwork and plaster, for filling joints in baseboards, window sill junctions, decorative panels and is very convenient for sealing cracks in the corners of the walls.