Foundation crack sealing in Lexington, KY
A crack that leaks is a water problem. A crack that is growing may be something more. Here is how to tell and what the fixes look like.
Foundation crack sealing closes leaking cracks in basement walls so water can't follow them inside. In poured concrete walls, that usually means injecting the crack from the inside with a flexible polyurethane or a rigid epoxy. In block walls, it means repairing cracked or failed mortar joints and dealing with water inside the hollow cores. For Lexington-area homeowners with a crack that darkens or drips after rain, it's often a targeted fix that costs far less than a full drainage system.
Signs a crack needs attention
- The crack darkens, drips or leaves a stain after rain
- White mineral deposits along the crack line
- Stair-step cracking through block mortar joints
- The crack is wider at one end or keeps growing
- Doors or windows upstairs have started to stick
Why do walls crack here?
Most hairline vertical cracks in poured walls come from concrete shrinking as it cures, and they leak once water is pressing on the outside. Clay soils that shrink in dry spells and swell when wet can add movement. In karst country there's another possibility: University of Kentucky Extension lists new cracks in foundation walls and drywall, and out-of-square door frames, among the early warning signs of a sinkhole forming. That doesn't mean every crack is a sinkhole, but a crack that is widening, or is paired with settling, deserves a closer look than a simple patch.
What are the options?
- Polyurethane injection. Expands and stays flexible, sealing leaking cracks in poured walls that may move a little seasonally.
- Epoxy injection. Bonds the crack faces together; used where some structural bonding is wanted on a crack that has stopped moving.
- Exterior sealing. Excavating at the crack to seal it from outside, used where inside access is blocked.
- Block repair. Repointing joints and draining the cores, often combined with an interior drain.
- Engineering review. If a crack is growing, wide, or a wall is leaning, ask whether a structural engineer, or a geotechnical engineer familiar with karst, should evaluate it first.
What affects the cost?
- How many cracks, their length and width
- Whether the wall is poured or block
- Finished walls that must be opened for access
- Any structural or engineering work the crack points to
The company you're connected with sets the price after seeing the wall. We don't quote prices.
Where we can connect you
Common questions
Is a cracked basement wall a sign of a sinkhole?
Not usually, but it can be one of several signs. University of Kentucky Extension lists new foundation and drywall cracks and out-of-square doors among early sinkhole warnings, and notes that shrinking and swelling clay soils can cause similar symptoms.
Should a leaking crack be injected with epoxy or polyurethane?
Polyurethane is common for leaks because it stays flexible. Epoxy is used where bonding the crack faces matters. The company should explain why it chose one for your wall.
Can I seal a foundation crack myself?
Surface patches from the inside rarely hold against water pressure. Injection fills the crack through the wall's thickness, which is why most leak repairs use it.
Related services
- Basement drainage systems
- Sump pumps and battery backups
- Crawl space encapsulation
- Downspouts and surface drainage
More on sinkholes, permits and local rules: Fayette County karst basement guide.
Water at the footing, a leaking crack, or a crawl space that smells?
Call and a waterproofing company that works in the Bluegrass will come find the source.