Cracks in basement walls start small and get worse. Gatineau Concrete identifies each one, determines whether it is active or stable, then injects or seals it to block water and stop freeze-thaw damage. Every assessment is free and every quote is written.
A thin line running down a basement wall in October looks harmless. By March, after the freeze-thaw cycle has worked it, that line is wider and water is coming through. The cost to fix it has tripled.
We measure and photograph each crack, determine if it is vertical shrinkage or horizontal pressure, dry or actively weeping. Dry vertical cracks get sealed at the surface. Weeping or active cracks get routed and injected with polyurethane that bonds and flexes with the concrete. Horizontal cracks that suggest structural movement get flagged for a separate assessment.
The same process applies whether you have one crack or a wall full of them. We tie the repair into your broader basement and waterproofing strategy. Severe cracks are referred to structural foundation repair.
Recent work
The repair sequence
How Foundation Crack Injection Works in Gatineau
Assess the crack type
We measure, photograph, and classify each crack as vertical or horizontal, active or stable, dry or weeping. The classification determines the repair method.
Route and prepare the surface
The crack is routed to a clean profile where needed, dust and loose material are removed, and injection ports are spaced to ensure full-depth penetration.
Inject the material
Polyurethane is injected through the ports for active or weeping cracks, flexible and water-responsive. Dry stable cracks are sealed at the surface. Epoxy is used for structural bonding when required.
Finish and verify
Ports are trimmed, the wall is cleaned, and the repair is inspected after curing. We recommend pairing with foundation work if exterior conditions are involved.
Not all cracks are routine
When Crack Repair Requires a Structural Call
Vertical hairline cracks are common and routine. Horizontal cracks across a wall, stair-step patterns in block, or cracks that widen and narrow with the seasons signal that the wall is under pressure or moving. These are structural issues, not cosmetic ones.
When we identify those patterns, we refer you to underpinning or foundation repair specialists and quote that work separately. We do not inject over a structural problem.
Hairlines, horizontals, polyurethane injection, and when a crack signals something bigger.
Most do, even hairline ones, because once water gets in and the freeze-thaw cycle takes over, a cosmetic crack becomes a leak. Sealing or injecting it early is much cheaper than fixing it after it has opened up.
Polyurethane is flexible, expands on contact with water, and is our default for active or weeping cracks. Epoxy is rigid and structural, used when bonding the two sides of the crack permanently is the goal. We choose based on the crack.
Yes, most cracks are injected from the inside through ports drilled into the wall, which avoids excavation. Exterior repair is reserved for cases where outside conditions are causing the crack or where pairing with waterproofing is the right call.
Usually yes. Horizontal cracks suggest the wall is being pushed by soil pressure or water; that is a structural issue and gets referred up to foundation repair. Vertical hairlines are usually just shrinkage and routine to fix.
A typical injection takes a few hours and the crack is sealed by the end of the visit. Larger or multiple cracks may take a day. The timeline is in the written quote so you know up front.
Hairline crack started weeping last spring. Injected from inside in one visit, sealed up properly, and it has stayed dry through the next season. Cheap and done.
H. W.
Gatineau
★★★★★
They flagged one of my cracks as horizontal and recommended a structural look instead of just injecting. Could have charged me, didn't. That kind of honesty is rare.
I. R.
Nepean
★★★★★
Three vertical cracks injected in one visit. No mess, no fuss, no return leaks. Quote was firm, work was clean, ports trimmed off so you barely see them.
P. N.
Ottawa
★★★★★
Classified each crack on the wall and only repaired the ones that needed it. The rest were stable shrinkage and didn't need a thing. Saved real money.
V. L.
Barrhaven
From the blog
Concrete Guides & Articles
Practical reading on planning, finishes and caring for concrete in Gatineau.
Describe the cracks you are seeing, their location, size and whether they are leaking. We will assess the wall at no charge and provide a written repair quote.
