How to Repair a Crumbling Foundation Video 1 of 3

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Tim Carter demonstrates how to install a magical tar and chip driveway.

[askthebuilder]

Soozi Q Go to my website - www.AsktheBuilder.com. Read all my past columns about repairing stucco, concrete overlays and anything I have about cement paint. All your answers are there.

[chrisgraham]

The damage here so far is just cosmetic, but it's important to stress that the issue does need to be addressed now to prevent further deterioration which will compromise the foundation. Vigorous scrubbing with a wire brush is required rather than sweeping it out with a bristled brush. A rotary wire wheel or a grinder with a masonry flat wheel will efficiently remove the paint and expose fresh, clean concrete that the repair materials will bond to. Follow this process with power washing, a prepared bonding slurry and the finishing coat. Keep it damp for several days to promote curing and don't apply a new coat of paint for at least 90 days.

[francisbibeau]

When you have rotten concrete you dont just dust of particles, you break the loose parts until you reach solid. This reparation you are doing is temporary especially if you have freezing temperature. Think of it as a cavity of a tooth people. Would you just cover it ?

[octagonocologist]

I have a 3 year old house and I'm noticing that there is a hairline crack in the foundation coating running essentially around the entire house. Most of the cracks are less than 1/16th of an inch, but in a few spots It's flaking off. This is right where the brick meets the slab, and it seems to be just the coating and not the actual foundation. I was hoping it would be acceptable to throw some caulk in the problem areas and just call it a day. Should I be concerned about structural damage based on the description I gave?

[mikewt]

The blocks in my foundation is not pure cement/concrete. A few are deteriorating and it’s much more of a Sandy pebbles that left on the floor. I know some homes in the area have limestone but don’t think it’s that either. Homes around 105 years old if that helps, anyhow would any reputable foundation company be able to repair or replace these blocks? Thank you.

[yorselrus]

After research of my crumbling interior garage block wall. The only conclusion that I've come up with they say that it's either because of the water getting on it and freezing or rodent damage damage. I live in Florida so I seriously doubt that it's a freezing issue. I've had rodent infestation in the past but I think I have it under control now. Unless there's some expert out there that can tell me any other thing that would be causing this crumbling, then I don't know what else it could be

[susancordeiro]

Hi Tim! Thanks for the great videos. We need to tackle the cement blocks on the side of our garage as they're crumbling (inside and out). I have a poured cement concrete sidewalk alongside the exterior wall of the garage (they are separated by an expansion joint). Given our climate (rain, frost and ice), moisture (rain that splashes unto the wall),  and that the two surfaces are perpendicular, is there a specific type of cement I need to use or is the ol' Portland cement going to do the job? Are there any additives that could be used to improve durability? Any insight you can provide would be hugely appreciated!

[edwardjones]

Did you actually say "solid as Sears"??? Do you just not know that Sears is only holding on by its finger tips or did you mean the block was about to crumble:)

[Skanzool]

I don't think this is cosmetic at all. As long as you've eliminated pyrrhotite as a possibility, then I would say that water is getting into those blocks then wicking out and causing the spalling or water is getting behind the paint and causing the problem. Either way you have a big problem and it's going to be a very big problem if the water infiltration issue is not addressed.

[tammyweaver]

What if that wasn't there that block was missing what's the next step

[STBRetired]

If there is that much damage ABOVE GROUND then how bad is the foundation BELOW GROUND? Shouldn't the dirt be backhoed out so the whole wall is exposed and examined. It doesn't do much good to repair the above ground cosmetics if the water coming off the roof is draining down alongside the wall and entering into the basement below ground.

[MagicMarshN]

“Solid as sears”… didn’t age well. Other than that thanks for the help! Lol