Interior vs Exterior Foundation Crack Repair
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For a single leaking vertical crack you can reach from inside, interior injection is usually the better choice: no digging, less mess and a lower price. Exterior repair makes sense when the wall needs a waterproof membrane, has several problem areas, or can’t be reached from inside.
Side by side
| Interior injection | Exterior repair | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Resin injected into the crack from inside the basement | Dig down outside, seal the crack, apply a membrane, backfill |
| Best for | Single leaking vertical or diagonal cracks | Several cracks, a whole leaking wall, or no interior access |
| Mess | Inside only; finished walls may need a small opening | Digging beside the house; decks or landscaping may need moving |
| Typical price | $500 to $1,500 per crack in Edmonton | Quoted after a free on-site assessment |
| Weather | Any time of year | Any time of year |
When interior injection wins
- One crack, or a few separate cracks, that leak.
- The crack is reachable from inside.
- You want the job done with minimal disruption.
- The wall hasn’t moved. (Horizontal cracks are particularly concerning and need assessment first.)
See crack injection.
When exterior repair wins
- The wall needs a waterproof membrane on the outside, not just one crack sealed.
- Several cracks on the same wall, or an interior repair that hasn’t held.
- The inside is finished and you’d rather not open it up.
- You want to fix grading and drainage against that wall at the same time.
Snowmelt and heavy rain push water against basement walls. Exterior work deals with that water where it starts. See exterior crack repair.
What neither one fixes on its own
A wall being pushed by soil pressure, with a horizontal crack or bowing, needs reinforcement. Sealing the crack, from either side, won’t stop the movement. See horizontal cracks and bowing walls.
Cost context
Basement foundation crack repairs in Canada typically run $500 to $2,500, and minor crack repairs $300 to $800. For more, see foundation crack repair costs in Edmonton.
Not sure which you need? Send us a photo.