Repairing Methods

for
Minor and Medium
Cracks
Repairing Methods for Minor and Medium Cracks

For live cracks following repairing methods should be

used:
1. Epoxy injection
2. Grooving and sealing
3. Shotcreting/ Guniting
4. Stitching
5. Grouting
 1. Epoxy injection

 This method is most successful method for bonding of

cracked sections having crack width 0.05 mm to 0.75
mm.
 This method restores the structural soundness so it forms
the part of structural repair.
2. Grooving and Sealing
 3. Shotcrete/ Guniting

It involves shooting concrete under pressure onto

prepared surface of damaged concrete with high velocity.
 This process is applied on vertical as well as horizontal
surfaces.
4. Stitching Method
 4. Stitching Method

 For major types of cracks where structural continuity is

required stitching method can be applied.
 Tensile strength of cracked concrete section can be
restored by applying this method.
Shear capacity of flexural member can also be increased.
 4. Stitching Method

 In this method stitching dogs are placed across the

cracks and are anchored in the holes by means of non-
shrink grout.
 Dogs of different sizes are kept in position along varying
planes for avoiding stress concentration.
 They are provided on both faces of crack so that they are
subjected to axial tension.
 4. Stitching Method

 Provision of concrete block in the path of crack helps in

arresting crack.
 Stitching does not seal the crack, it just prevent the crack
from further widening.
 5. Grouting

 On the completion of preparatory work the exposed and

cleaned reinforcement should be given a coat of grout
having Portland Cement with Styrene Butadiene Rubber
(SBR) latex.
 Grouting of rebar can be done before grouting of
concrete by 24 hours or more and rebar can be given
second coat of grout at the same time when grouting for
concrete is done.
Repairing Methods for Major Cracks and Damaged Concrete

For repair of large cracks and crushed concrete, following

methods can be adopted
1. For cracks which are very large, filler materials such as
flat stone chips can be used along with grouting
material.
2. Adding reinforcement
3. Providing wire mesh
4. Installing ferro-cement plates at corners
Repairing Methods for Major Cracks and Damaged Concrete
Repairing Methods for Major Cracks and Damaged Concrete
 Dampness in Walls
Causes of Dampness in Walls:
i. Leakage through defective roof
ii. Porous bricks causes permanent source of dampness in walls
as they attract moisture.
iii. Growth of vegetation in wall indicates moisture

iv. Dumping of earth against wall is also a reason foe dampness

in the wall.
v. Cavities, holes kept for scaffolding if not filled properly with
concrete, becomes source of moisture.
 Dampness in Walls
Causes of Dampness in Walls:
vi. If mortar joints not laid properly and uniformly allows water to
move.
vii. The defective damp proof course if decayed, dilapidated or
defectively laid fails to arrest rising of moisture from below and
causes dampness.
viii. Splashing of rain off the ground on to the wall above damp
proof course.
ix. If window sills are defective that allows stagnation of water on it.
 Dampness in Walls
Causes of Dampness in Walls:
x. Sloping ground in hilly areas, where building is
constructed on slopes of hills.
xi. Dampness in hollow walls is caused due to deposit of
mortar and lack of ventilation.
xii. Leaking pipes allows water to enter the walls.
xiii. Presence of salt in sand used for plaster will leave the
wall damp.
 Effects of Dampness
i. Unhygienic atmosphere inside the building.
ii. Disintegration of materials.
iii. Continued presence of moisture in brick may cause decay of
wall.
iv. Efflorescence is produced by entrance of moisture in the
brickwork.
v. Furniture's are damaged due to continuous damp environment.
vi. Decoration of timber, bamboo, wall painting etc. get damaged

vii. Warping and decay of timber occurs.

 Effects of Dampness
viii. Plaster gets soft and subsequently crumbles.
ix. Corrosion of metal occurs.
x. Damage to electrical installations and there may be short
circuiting.
xi. Deterioration of floor, covering may occur.
xii. Infestation of termites may happen.
xiii. There is blistering, flaking and bleaching of paint.
 Remedies for Dampness
1. Temporary Remedies for Internal Walls:
i. Application of bituminous painting
ii. Painting with water proofing solution
iii. Applying cement wash
 Remedies for Dampness
2. Temporary Remedies for External Walls:
i. Applying water proofing solution
ii. Coating with boiled linseed oil
iii. Applying Cement wash
iv. Applying alternate coats of soap and alum solutions to
the walls.
v. Paraffin oil can be painted over the affected surface.
vi. Application of bituminous painting
 Remedies for Dampness
Permanent Remedies :
i. In case of dampness due to leakage from roof we have to
stop the roof leakage.
ii. Where there is vegetation, removal of vegetation including
uprooting and applying chemical solution can be done so that
growth may not recur.
iii. For the earth dumping, banking, sloping ground, space
around the building need to be dresses to avoid splashing of
water on wall.
 Remedies for Dampness
Permanent Remedies :
iv. In case of cavities, holes, spot is opened and the space is filled
with concrete.
v. When there is dampness in hollow walls due to dropping of
mortar, outer leaf of wall which is non load bearing is
opened partially and dropped mortar is removed.
vi. When there is salt in plaster, then there is no other alternative
than to remove the plaster and apply new plaster with salt
free.
 Remedies for Dampness
Permanent Remedies :
vii. In case of soil and waste water pipes, when pipes from inside the
building pass through the wall for coming out, joints needs to be
opened up from outside and repaired.
viii. In case of rain water pipes, probable location is at intake mouth
of roof level, joint is repaired with sand cement mortar
ix. In case of dampness due to use of porous bricks and bad materials,
the portion are reconstructed with better bricks and materials.
 Foundation Settlement
Causes of Foundation Settlement:
i. Low safe bearing capacity of soil below the foundation.
ii. Over stressing of foundation brickwork which may lead to
crushing and causes settlement.
iii. If cavities are left in brickwork or there are gaps in mortar joints
left during construction.
iv. If foundation is exposed due to excavation close to it for laying
drainage pipeline and backfilling is not done properly.
v. If there is movement during earthquake.
 Foundation Settlement
Causes of Foundation Settlement:
vi. When there is seepage from drainage or water supply pipes or sub soil
water moves from external to internal face through the foundation
wall.
vii. Vibration occurs in soil for any activity in the vicinity.
viii. Less depth of foundation is provided than required as per Rankine’s
formula.
ix. Roots of the nearby trees draw moisture from the soil and make it
susceptible to settlement. Roots also enter into the foundation
masonry and causes cracks in it.
 Made -up soil
 Made up soil is a built up soil which is not
consolidated either in natural course or by any other
means.
 Sometimes, ponds, low laying areas are filled up for
construction of buildings this filled up soil is termed as
made up soil.
 Improvement of Soft Soil
1. Improvement of Soft Soil by Compaction:
Soft soil can be improved by adopting following compaction techniques:

i. Mechanical ramming of soil is done to reduce the void content.

This method is effective if the depth of filling is not more than 1 m.

ii. When the depth of filling is not more than 45 cm, compaction of

soil is done after putting a layer of rubble of thickness 30 to 40 cm.

iii. Flooding of soil by water is also one of the method of compaction.

iv. Compaction by preloading also can be done to improve soil bearing

capacity.
 2. Improvement of Soft Soil by Stone Columns
 Stone columns are compacted columns of gravel or
crushed stones.
 These are installed in soft soil below foundation.
 Stone columns provide vertical support for load
transferred from structure above.
 They also provide drainage of soil and also resistance
to horizontal or inclined shear like normal piles.
 3. Improvement of Soft Soil by Grouting

Grouting is a process in which liquid materials either

in suspension or in solution form are injected into
subsurface soil or rock for decreasing permeability or
increasing shear strength or to decrease compressibility of
soil.
 3. Improvement of Soft Soil by Grouting

Different types of grouting:

i. Permeation Grouting
ii. Displacement Grouting
iii. Encapsulation or Uncontrolled Displacement Grouting
3. Improvement of Soft Soil by Grouting
4. Improvement of Soft Soil by Sand Piles
5. Improvement of Soft Soil by Increasing Depth of Foundation

a) The depth of excavation is increased and is taken down

up to strata of virgin soil. The extra depth is filled up by
sand and foundation laid over sand bed.
b) The soft soil can be improved by increasing depth of
foundation and taking it down up to depth where a
comparatively better soil stratum is available.
5. Improvement of Soft Soil by Increasing Depth of Foundation