Technology for waterproofing and repairing concrete has changed throughout the past years. Where traditional methods left the installer coming back to the site multiple times, new techniques offer a quick and long-lasting repair that adds life to the concrete.

Choosing the correct leak repair option is vital in maintaining a durable structure.

The Kryton Leak Repair Kit acts as a permanent waterproofing solution used to repair leaking cracks, holes and joints in concrete applications. Extremely reliable and versatile, the system repairs cracks in many different situations such as weeping walls, active infiltration and minor hairline cracks.

By permanently repairing the concrete, the system works in  residential applications like basement walls, pools and fountains; as well as the demanding industrial industry for underground parking garages, wastewater treatment plants, water parks and more. The system negates the risk of costly call-back situations, giving the installer and investor the confidence needed for long-lasting concrete repairs.

Previous to the Leak Repair System, epoxy or polyurethane injection systems were most commonly used to repair concrete cracks. While effective in certain scenarios, these solutions have more probability to re-crack and need follow-up work to be done—especially in the presence of water.

The Leak Repair System uses unique crystalline technology. Crystalline technology has round, needle-like crystals that grow in the presence of water to fill capillary pores and micro-cracks in the water. The crystals block the pathway for water, essentially making the damaged area waterproof. The crystals continue to grow using dormant cement and the introduced water –the more water introduced, the more the crystals grow.

The system includes:

• Krystol Plug™: Applied in the crack first. It sets very fast to stop infiltration at the source.
• Krystol Repair Grout™: Applied second, on top of the Plug. This is to fill the rest of the damaged area, flush with the surface of the concrete.
• Krystol T-1®: Applied last, once the cracked is filled with the plug material and the grout as the final coating.

Krystol Leak Repair System is a permanent solution for fixing cracks in concrete.

Recently, a Kryton demonstration was completed in a Midwest wastewater treatment plant by Source One Environmental (S1E). The water underground had found a thin crack to follow and eventually infiltrated the tank which was causing major infiltration. This triggered major issues for the treatment plant because not only did the tank have structural damage, but the facility had to treat unnecessary water.

This was a major repair and the first day was dedicated to preparation. To begin, we chiseled a 1” x 1 ½” deep channel along the length of the crack. After the channel was created, it needed to be cleaned out thoroughly. Then, all of the water was vacuumed out of the channel to find where the actual active leak was coming from.

Once the leak was established, the Krystol Plug was used to stop the water infiltration. After the leak had been stopped, the Krystol Repair Grout was mixed and applied over the Plug material, flush with the surface of the channel. The Grout needed time to set and harden before the Krystol T1 coating was applied over the whole repair, overlapping the channel 4-6” on both sides.

After all of the steps were completed, the whole repair needed to stay damp for a better cure. Other than spraying the repair with a hose throughout the day, we found that placing plastic and burlap over the repair kept it moist.

With concrete repair technology growing, it's important to understand the different options available for a successful repair. The right or wrong decision will impact your schedule, profit, reputation, and the risk/liability.

Author: Brad Miller, Technical Sales Support

About S1E: Source One Environmental (S1E) was established in 2009 to provide innovative solutions for municipalities, contractors and plumbers in the water management and infrastructure rehabilitation markets. S1E manufacturers trenchless repair products that provide customers with an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective solution while offering on-site training and consultations.