ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Mr. Hiwale S.S teacher of maintenance and repairs of
structure who gave me a golden opportunity to work on this project. I’d also like
to express my gratitude to the principal Prof. Bhorkar V.S. wholeheartedly. I am
also thankful to Kanchan Sawant HOD of diploma of civil engineering.
 Repairs of cracks
Introduction

Have you found your dream home at the location you've always wanted? But did you notice
some wall cracks? The problem of cracking the walls is one of the problems that most
troubles homeowners due to their seriousness and distortion of the aesthetic view of the
house. How can you know if a small crack will become a big crack in your home wall over
time?

First of all, it is necessary to know whether wall cracks can be easily repaired or whether
expensive structural repairs are needed. There is no exact method to determine how serious a
wall crack is without hiring an expert to examine the wall you can get the services of home
maintenance you need.

In this guide, we will learn in detail about the types of cracks, their causes, and how to treat
them.
Types of Cracks in Walls:

 Horizontal Crack at the Junction of Roof Slab and Masonry Wall Support
 Vertical Cracks at Junction of R.C.C. Column and Wall Masonry
 Cracks Due To Chemical Reactions and Preventive Measures
 Cracks in Foundation
 Extension of Existing Building
 Cracking of Compound Wall
 Horizontal Cracks in the Topmost Storey
 Cracks in External and Internal Walls of Load-Bearing Structures
 Random Cracks in All Directions Involving both External and Internal Walls
 Partition Walls in Load-Bearing Structures
 Vertical Cracks in Buildings
 Reinforced Concrete Roofs at Different Levels
 Causes
 Settling And Subsidence
 Soil excavation is required in all most every building which causes soil disruption.
This disturbed soil will compact and settle over time. This process causes the
movement of buildings and cracks in the walls. Subsidence can take months, or even
years to occur. Minor subsidence happens in every building but the significant
downward movement of soil causes structural cracks.

 Poor Design And Construction Work

 Wall cracks can happen due to poor construction or design of the property. A poorly
designed wall will crack under too much weight. Similarly inferior, flawed, faulty, or
incompatible building material will fail to perform and give way for cracks. An ill-
designed structure or footing can also result in building cracks.

 Reactive Soil
 Some types of soils (such as clay) are extremely reactive and expand with moisture
and contract when dry. These types of soil will cause uneven movement in the base of
the house and become the cause of cracks in walls. It is important to have proper soil
testing done before building your home. If possible, choose non-reactive soils such as
sand or gravel.

 Degradation Of Material
 Crumbling Concrete -Building Inspection CouncilLike everything else in this world,
building materials do decay with time. Rusting, rotting, weathering and poor
maintenance lead to the degradation of the material. Once building material starts to
degrade, the structure starts to succumb leading to cracks. Concrete crumbling is
another phenomenon that can cause cracks and happen due to the chemical reaction of
concrete with salt and moisture.

 Climate Change And Floods

 Climate change leads to variation in humidity and temperature. This change causes
the contraction and expansion of building elements which leads to cracks in the walls.

 Extreme weather changes such as drought and floods cause the significant contraction
and expansion of soil. Similarly, a change in the water level under the building
changes the moisture content also.

 Excavation And Construction Near House

 If there is new construction especially excavation in the proximity of your house, then
vibration from the heavy machinery, excessive compaction, blasting can cause the
walls to crack in your house.
 In this case, a dilapidation report can help house owners and avoid conflict between
stakeholders.

 Water Damage
 Water damage slowly decomposes the building element to collapse and results in wall
cracks. Water damage can happen due to blocked gutters, water leaks, drainage issues,
poor slopes, and floods. A water leak or water accumulation under the floor can rot
footing or soil causing the building movement. It can wash away the soil directly
under the foundation.

 Trees In Close Proximity

 Trees in the proximity of the building can cause significant cracks in the building.
Tress have invasive roots which penetrate through the walls or soil under the
foundation contributing to the cracks in the walls. Tree roots change the moisture
content around the building which affects the integrity of the structure.
Method of repairing cracks

1.Fixing a Crack in Drywall

Buy either pre-mixed or "setting-type" joint compound. Setting-type joint compound

is in powder form. You should mix it in a "mud tray" using a taping knife. Do not use
spackling. [1] Joint compound, mud trays and taping knives are sold at hardware
stores and home centers.
Setting-type joint compound is harder to apply smoothly and to sand, so it is not the
best option for beginners. It is preferred by pros because it dries quickly.

Cut a V-notch 1⁄4 to 1⁄8 inch (0.64 to 0.32 cm) along the crack. The “V” shape will
help keep the compound in place.
Remove the dust from the crack by brushing it out with a paint brush or using a hand
vacuum cleaner.
Apply coats of joint compound over the crack. Use a 3 to 4 in (7.6 to 10.2 cm) putty
knife. Let the compound dry completely between coats. Layer on as many coats as
necessary to fill the crack. The average is 3 coats.
Drying can take from 20 minutes for each coat of setting-type joint compound to 24
hours for a thick first coat of pre-mixed compound.
If the cut is deeper than 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm), you may need to press a strip of mesh or
paper tape into the first layer of compound before it dries to better seal the crack
Thinner coats are ideal as they're easier to sand down to match the wall once dry.

Sand the dried joint compound with medium-grit sandpaper. Use a sanding block to
smooth out the section to the flatness of the wall. Always wear a dust mask when
sanding to avoid inhaling particles.
80-grit (medium-grit) sandpaper can eliminate larger bumps whereas a finer 120-grit
can be used for finishing touches.
One option is to sand in between coats to avoid having to sand as much at the end
Paint over the crack with latex primer followed by wall paint. If you don't use primer
first, your patched area won't blend in properly with the rest of the wall.[9]
The exception to this is if you used a paint and primer in one. Then you only need a
coat or two of the paint directly on the affected area.
2.Filling a Crack in a Concrete Wall

Enlarge the crack with a chisel and hammer. Patching material is heavy and will not
fill a thin crack. A technique known as undercutting (which is essentially chipping
away at the concrete) should be done to 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the edges of the crack.
This provides more surface area for the patching material to grip.

Clean debris from the crack using a paint brush or a hand vacuum. Rinse it with water
and dry it with a hair dryer.
Prime the area with a concrete bonding adhesive. This will help the patching material
adhere better to the concrete. You'll want to use an old paintbrush to spread a thin
layer around the edges and deep into the crack.

Apply multiple coats of concrete patching with a stiff putty knife or pointed trowel.
Press each layer into the crack and let dry completely between coats. Repeat until the
crack is filled and level with the rest of the wall.
Add texture to the patched area before it dries. The patched area will look bad if it is
smoother than the surrounding area. Matching new concrete to old concrete can be
hard. Test your method of adding texture by applying a coat of patching mix to piece
of wood, and roughing it up to see if the texture matches.
Sealing the patch with a heavy-duty water-based polyurethane with a brush can
prevent stains and other marks
3.Repairing a Plaster Wall Crack

Press gently on the wall near the crack to see if it gives. If the plaster moves toward
the wall, the plaster has likely come apart from the lath strips These are wooden
strips, approximately 3/8" x 1" (1cm x 2.5cm), with thin gaps between them. [14] If
the plaster has come loose, screw it onto the lath strips using 1 1/4" (3.2cm) drywall
screws. Bury each screw head into the plaster. Do not use longer screws because there
could be an electric cable behind the wall.

Widen the crack using a putty knife if it's less than 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) wide. This will
create a wider surface for the joint compound to adhere to
Spread ready-mixed or setting-type joint compound over the crack. Use a 6" (15.2cm)
taping knife or a 4" (10.2cm) putty knife. Ready-mixed joint compound applies more
smoothly, especially for beginners. Setting-type joint compound must be mixed using
a "mud tray" and a taping knife or putty knife. It can be smoothed out when partially
dry, so very little sanding is needed, preventing dust from spreading around the room.
Dampening the crack before applying the compound will remove any loose particles
and help the compound stick better.

If the crack is large, cover it with self-adhesive fiberglass mesh tape before applying
the plaster. This will prevent the new plaster from cracking there if there is movement
in the wall which caused the crack. Let dry.
 For setting-type joint compound to dry thoroughly, the room should be between 55
and 70 °F (13 and 21 °C).

Apply 2 or 3 layers of compound over the taped area. The final layer can be smoothed
out using a wet sponge. With each additional layer, extend the compound another 2 to
3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) outside the previous layer's edges. Your last layer should
extend 12 inches (30 cm) beyond the original area. For this you should use a 6" taping
knife. Lightly sand each layer with a fine sandpaper to remove bumps.
Use a feathering technique when applying the compound. With the knife at a 70-
degree angle, start at the center and pull the knife to the outside edges of each coat,
increasing pressure the further away from the middle you get.

Paint over the patched area to match the rest of the wall. If you can see a raised
section where you did your repair, sand it flush to the wall before painting so it blends
seamlessly.
It's smart to wait at least 24 hours prior to painting to ensure the compound is
completely dry..
Conclusion
For dormant cracks, use either rigid or flexible repair materials. Active cracks require
flexible repair materials and special design considerations to allow for future
movements. Using a rigid repair material for active cracks typically results in
cracking of the repair material and/or the adjacent concrete.
By this report we get that how to repair wall .