Repair Services
Carbon Fiber Repairs
For larger cracks, SEALED often recommends a Carbon Fiber Strap or Rhino Concrete Crack Locks embedded in epoxy. Our repair will stop leaking and can help prevent any further wall movement, because carbon fiber is stronger than steel.
HOW IT WORKS
Carbon Fiber Foundation Repair Process
The recent introduction of high-strength carbon fiber in residential foundation repair is an exciting new opportunity for homeowners. It offers stronger repairs, less intrusive construction, and affordable prices, which in turn can give you more options for repairing your home.
Carbon fiber is a set of tiny fibers only 5 or 10 micrometers in diameter, composed mostly of carbon atoms, and bonded together in crystals. Thousands of fibers are bundled together and woven to form a pliable fabric. When placed in tension, embedded in a variety of epoxies, and allowed to harden, an extremely strong repair material is created. Where wall deflection is at or below 2″, carbon fiber may be used instead of steel. Simply put, the strength of carbon fiber is easily 10X greater than steel.
Before being embedded in epoxy, carbon fiber can be set to follow the contours of a wall, a pylon, around corners, or along a curved surface. This greatly expands the opportunities for deploying carbon fiber
If a foundation crack is wider than 1/4″, or if sections of the wall have moved and are offset, injected polyurethane is not likely to be effective. Therefore, SEALED may recommend a carbon fiber repair. Its superior strength is just the answer to making structural repairs to poured foundations.
First, we clean out any prior repair material, debris, and loose concrete from the interior of the crack. Next, we thoroughly grind the surface of any paint or dirt, which creates a smooth surface and ensures that the epoxy will adhere properly to the concrete. Then, SEALED will fill the crack as deep as we can with hydraulic or mortar cement, which helps bond the crack and prevent water from entering your home.
Finally, SEALED will apply a coat of epoxy, then place and squeegee a carbon fiber strap across the crack in your basement wall. This material has carbon fiber threads running vertically, horizontally, or in both directions. When it has been secured in tension across the crack, SEALED technicians will apply and squeegee additional epoxy across the strap. The carbon fiber, embedded in epoxy, will have greater strength than steel.
Increasingly, foundation repair contractors are turning to carbon fiber products for a variety of structural repairs. Carbon fiber is lightweight, has extraordinary tensile strength, and is economical. It often requires less excavation of concrete prior to installation.
Ask SEALED if carbon fiber might be part of the solution for your foundation issues.
SEALED works with the highest quality materials available. We train regularly and research what new products and updated techniques are available. We continuously refine our entire process to ensure the best results for our customers. And we are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Ready to start a project?
SEALED offers free inspections and estimates on all poured foundation crack repair jobs. Drop us a line anytime, and one of SEALED’s Kansas City crack repair experts will respond to you as soon as possible.