I've got an older home (1935) and I found some damage to the foundation. I'm not going to be re doing the full thing I don't have the money. I'm wondering if by this photo if someone can point me in the right direction on what to do?

I was thinking I could get some very strong concrete and use a trowel to reinforce this area. But I'm more a computer guy than a mr-fix-it.

Any input is welcome.

Thank you

This message has been edited. Last edited by: venport,

You refer to a photo but I am not seeing it. There could be a multitude of reasons for the failure. If it is structural then you should consult a professional to accurately address the problem.

Yup - no photo so try to repost or give more info.

I will say this though without knowing exactly what you have - There is no kind of concrete patch or 'strong concrete' that will fix a crack in a foundation. If the foundation is cracked through, it can be repaired by digging underneath and building up additional support from the bottom. This is a better job for a pro as opposed to a DIY project.

OTOH, it is also possible that you have just minor cracks that are not hurting anything. Either post more info here so we can figure out what is going on or just call in a local guy to take a look.

Sorry I thought it uploaded. I've added the image.

Could you pull back a little bit to show more context as to what is going on around the damage? Is there a joist sitting on the plate just above the hole?

I don't have a pick that far back, I'll have to climb back down there with the camera again. It might be a few days.

Thank you for taking the time to look as think about my issue.

Carl-

Carl,
A lot is going to depend on what that section of sill plate is supporting. If it doesn't have a load over the damaged part any repair is cosmetic or to keep critters, water and weather out. If if is bearing a load it needs to be quite a bit more substantial.

Ah so Adding concrete or something like that will not reenforce this enough to matter. Its either pay a **** load of money to fix it or may two **** loads move money when it falls in at some point in the future.

Am i correct?

I am like the rest in that it is difficult to gauge in that photograph. If I am seeing correctly it appears that there is a newer wall to the left constructed out of block. The old section with concrete looks to be original to the period of the house. A quick fix if you have major settling is to shim the gap just until you can have someone look at the problem as a whole. If the bottom of the concrete has detoriated as the top shows you need a professional. If this is an intersection of opposing walls it does not appear that it was tied together. May I ask what brought your attention to the settling problem?: Was it cracks in the wall, doorways sticking or windows not working properly?

Thanks I'll get some better more descriptive pics and get back to you guys.

I found this when I was looking around on how to run some Ethernet cable through the house. What else should I be looking for while I'm down there? I'm a bit ignorant to this sort of thing.

Just look for other areas that may have similar types of damage.

If your picture shows all the the current damage to the foundation, then you have nothing to worry about. It's such a small area in relation to the entire load carried by the full foundation that loosing 4" will do nothing bad. Now, if you have many more spots like that, the we need to talk.

Everyone seems to be on the right track, but Jaybee summed it up.

It seems like this problem was only discovered when you went looking for it, or accidentally found it. This is far diff than a huge crack in a wall or ceiling or a door not shutting, thus symptoms of settling or a possible structural issue.

What seems to be the problem is aesthetics only, if nothing structurally is wrong with your house that you have not mentioned. Therefore, you can buy a 50lb of concrete and borrow a trowel and fill-in this area. With the left over concrete, perhaps you have a side walk or the edge of a driveway you can repair too...

good luck,
tstex

In my opinion...
You need to post another picture. It looks like this could have been repaired once before.?

For small cracks, such as those that are about 0.125 inch (about 3 mm) wide, start by using a screwdriver to chip away any flakes or loose concrete. Scour the cracks with a wire brush to remove any dirt and debris. Rinse the area using a hose or a bucket of water.
Next, mix up a small batch of concrete patching compound, which is available at most hardware stores. Using a latex additive will allow the compound to expand naturally through cold and hot weather. Trowel the compound into the cracks using a small putty knife. Smooth the surface right away, while the compound is still moist, because concrete compounds typically begin to set very quickly. Allow your repair work to dry thoroughly before you let anyone walk or drive on the surface.