How to fix expansion joint foam deteriorating?

liverbird

Hi Team,

The expansion joint foam between the concrete and the exterior wall seems to be deteriorating. What can be done ?

Also the concrete at the bottom of the exterior wall seems to be cracking as well. Does this seem like a structural issue and if not what can be done to avoid this ?

JacobZ

Hi @liverbird,

Thank you for your question about the expansion foam at your home.

I don't think it has deteriorated so much, just been compressed and moved around with movements of the concrete and foundations. I would, however, suggest covering it with a bead of Sikaflex 11FC Purform to prevent water from getting into the gap and behind the foam.

Check out How to fill a joint in a concrete slab for an example of this being done. In your situation, you'll want the bead to span the gap between the concrete and the brick. You can apply painter's tape on either side of the gap, then apply your Sikaflex. Smooth it out with a Silicone Scraper, then pull the tape to get a nice clean line.

The cracked corner looks like it could be a patch repair carried out in the past, but I can't say with absolute certainty. It is probably worth having a professional check this one out as it could be an indication of an underlying issue.

Allow me to tag @Noyade, @TedBear and @Noyade to see what they think.

Jacob