Cracks in foundation walls start small and stay small only if sealed before water finds them. Pittsburgh Concrete identifies each crack's type and condition, then routes, cleans, and injects or seals it with the right material so water stays out and the concrete stops moving. No guesswork, no generic fixes. Every assessment is free.
Polyurethane or epoxy injection selected per crack
Written quote, scheduled work, no surprises
Water finds every opening
Why Sealing a Foundation Crack Now Saves Later
A thin vertical line on a basement wall in October looks harmless. By March, after freeze-thaw cycles have worked the concrete, that line is wider and water is seeping through. The slab is wet, the wall is damp, and what was a ten-minute injection job is now a bigger problem.
We measure and photograph each crack, determine whether it is vertical or horizontal, active or dormant, and whether it is weeping. That classification drives the repair method. Dry vertical hairlines get surface-sealed; active or weeping cracks get polyurethane injected through ports at full depth; horizontal cracks that suggest structural movement get flagged for a different conversation.
This same discipline applies whether we are sealing one crack or a wall full of them, and it connects to our broader basement concrete and foundation waterproofing work. Cracks that show signs of structural stress are referred to foundation repair specialists.
Recent work
The repair sequence
Sealing a Foundation Crack, Step by Step
Assess the crack on-site
We measure, photograph, and classify each crack as vertical or horizontal, dry or weeping, stable or active. This assessment determines whether the fix is a surface seal or a full-depth injection.
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 positioned at the right spacing to ensure the material reaches the full depth of the concrete.
Inject or seal the crack
Weeping or active cracks receive polyurethane injected through the ports, which flexes and bonds at full depth. Stable dry cracks are sealed at the surface. The material and method match the crack condition.
Finish and verify the repair
Injection ports are trimmed flush, the wall is cleaned, and the repair is inspected after curing. For walls exposed to exterior water, we recommend pairing with foundation installation or basement waterproofing.
Not all cracks are created equal
When a Crack Repair Isn't the Right Answer
Vertical hairline cracks are 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 load or movement. These are structural issues, not cosmetic ones, and they need a different approach.
When we encounter those patterns, we say so immediately, refer to underpinning or structural foundation repair, and quote that work separately. We will not inject over a structural problem and pretend it is fixed.
Hairlines, horizontals, polyurethane injection, and when a crack means 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.
Homeowner reviews
What Pittsburgh Homeowners Say About Their Crack Repairs
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.
Pittsburgh
★★★★★
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.
Mckeesport
★★★★★
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.
Aliquippa
★★★★★
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.
Monroeville
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Describe the cracks you see, where they are located, their size, and whether they are leaking. We will assess the wall at no charge and provide a written quote for any sealing or injection work.
