Bowing Foundation
Do you have a bowing foundation? It is important to determine whether you’re dealing with a bulged or leaning wall. Making the distinction will help in determining the exact location of damage and the underlying cause. This information will go a long way in deciding the best course of action to take in repairing the foundation.
Signs of bulging
You will need to take measurements of the bowing using a weighted string. Measure the distance between the wall and the weighted string at different points along a vertical line. If the difference between the distance between the string and the wall measured at the top of the wall is greater than that taken at the bottom of the wall, you can say that the wall has bulged.
If your foundation is of masonry block, you will notice horizontal cracks forming in one or more mortar joints near the bulged area. The widest cracks will be located at the point of the greatest inward bulging.
Signs of leaning
You can also use a weighted string to diagnose the leaning of a foundation wall. The measurements in this case should increase gradually from the floor to the top of the wall. If this is the case, then the wall is leaning inward.
The measurements may increase gradually in any direction and not necessarily vertically. Foundations often do not lean in the most obvious direction. The leaning is the result of the surrounding soil pushing against the bottom of the wall and not the top.
Consider the type of foundation
It is important to consider what construction was used for your foundation before you begin looking for signs of bulging or leaning. This is because the same force can have different effects on different types of foundations. Therefore, bulging on a poured concrete slab foundation will appear different from bulging in masonry block foundations.
Bulging is rare in poured concrete foundations. This is because the wall is a single unit. It is therefore difficult for this type of foundation to bulge even when there is a force acting on a single point of the foundation.
Bulging is more common in masonry block foundations. There are various weak points in this type of wall that result in bulging and cracking of the wall.
Even with this information, it is still important to have a thorough inspection of your foundation. This will help you choose the most effective method for foundation repair.
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