Bowed Brick Wall
When home owners notice that they have a bowed brick wall, they’ll want to know if they can save their foundation or not. Replacing a foundation can be extremely expensive. The good news for homeowners is that most foundation walls can be saved.
Why your foundation wall is bowing
Foundation walls often bow as a result of high pressure exerted on them by the surrounding soil. This often occurs when the soil surrounding the foundation walls is saturated with water. This may occur when:
- Gutters and downspouts are damaged or blocked, allowing water to overflow and collect near the foundation of the house.
- The land surrounding the home slopes towards the home’s foundation, allowing water to flow towards the foundation of the home when it rains or when the water sprinklers are turned on.
- Snow is allowed to collect near the foundation of the home. When the snow melts the soil below, it becomes saturated with water.
What to Do
One of the first signs that home owners notice when their foundation walls are bowing is cracks. In a bowed brick wall, the cracks take on a stair-like pattern. This is because the cracks follow the weakest parts of the wall, which is between the bricks. If you notice cracks in your foundation, get in touch with a professional foundation repair contractor. Those cracks will not go away if you wait and the bowing will only get worse. If the problem is arrested in its early stages of development, the foundation repair contractor can provide you with a simple solution. In many cases, a bowed brick wall can be stabilized. This may involve the use of a restraint system such as carbon fiber strips or steel beams depending on your requirements and the recommendations of your contractor. The choice of stabilization system to be used on your wall will depend on what you want to achieve as well as the conditions that you’re working with. For example, if you intend to use your basement as a living space in future, carbon fiber strips would be your best option. They can be painted over and don’t take a lot of room. Your contractor may suggest the straightening of your wall. This is often preserved for when the bowing is great. The process involves excavating the soil around the foundation and straightening the wall. The soil is then backfilled.
