Sealing walls
#1
01-09-15, 07:27 AM
Sealing walls
I'm starting my basement improvement by sealing all my air gaps and cement cracks (thanks Bud for the advice). However I came across two things and wanted some advice.
First, there's a major crack next to the frame of one of my windows. Is using cement sealer (the caulking gun tube) enough for this, or do I need to do something different? In general is that just all I need to do for the cracks in my cement (I have a wall-to-wall crack across the floor, too.)
Also, I found that the wall that separates the unfinished basement from the garage just butts up against the cement at the ends and there's no insulation between the wood and the cement. Should I just spray that whole edge with GREAT STUFF spray foam?
Thanks.
~Isaac
First, there's a major crack next to the frame of one of my windows. Is using cement sealer (the caulking gun tube) enough for this, or do I need to do something different? In general is that just all I need to do for the cracks in my cement (I have a wall-to-wall crack across the floor, too.)
Also, I found that the wall that separates the unfinished basement from the garage just butts up against the cement at the ends and there's no insulation between the wood and the cement. Should I just spray that whole edge with GREAT STUFF spray foam?
Thanks.
~Isaac
#2
01-09-15, 08:00 AM
Follow-up question; I've been referring to my basement floor and walls as cement. How can I tell if they're cement or concrete with just a really fine aggregate?
#3
01-09-15, 08:10 AM
Group Moderator
Cement is an ingredient used to make concrete which is; cement, stone and sand. So, it's mostly correct to say your basement walls are both cement and concrete. Your picture doesn't show and mortar joints between cement (CMU) blocks so I'm assuming you have poured concrete walls. There is probably larger aggregate (stones) in there if you were to saw into it to see a cross section. On the surface though you'll usually only see the cement and sand portion of the concrete.
#4
01-09-15, 08:28 AM
Awesome, thanks for the answer. In that case, is the "cement sealer" that comes in a tube from HD sufficient for patching long cracks? or should I mix up some concrete to patch it?
For instance, here's part of the crack which goes from wall to wall across my floor:
For instance, here's part of the crack which goes from wall to wall across my floor:
