3 Important Reasons to Get Your Foundation Wall Cracks Fixed ASAP Columbus, OH

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Foundation Cracks | Columbus, OHFoundation wall cracks are a common occurrence in homes with basements. However, many homeowners would rather ignore them than have them attended to as soon as possible. Many are discouraged from having the cracks repaired by the belief that crack repair is expensive. Others simply can’t be bothered.

Whatever your reasons for putting off the repair of those wall cracks, you may want to consider the following reasons to have them fixed as soon as possible.

  1. Cracks eventually leak

Even if the cracks in your foundation show no signs of leaking at the moment, there’s a good chance that they’ll eventually begin to leak. Your foundation is constantly moving. This is not only as a result of the natural settling of the home but also because of the lateral pressure acting against the wall from the surrounding soil. This movement will result in the cracks becoming larger over time. The cracks will eventually begin to leak. You may one day wake up to a flooded basement and destroyed property. This can be expensive to recover from.

  1. You’ll have a mold problem

Black Mold | Columbus, OH

Mold is not only a nuisance but can be highly toxic. Black mold spores produce mycotoxins that can cause a number of health problems. If you have cracks in your basement, there’s a good chance that a mold infestation will follow soon. This is because the moisture entering the basement through the cracks will make the basement the ideal environment for the establishment of mold colonies. When the spores from these colonies are dispersed in the air in the basement, they will be carried through the vents and floorboards into the home above, where they will cause various health concerns for your household. You can avoid a mold problem by having your cracks repaired ASAP.

  1. The cracks will only get worse

Ignoring the wall cracks won’t make them go away. If anything, they will only become worse. They may even cause a structural issue in the future. These cracks can result in bowing or sloping of the wall. They may even result in the complete collapse of the foundation wall. Fixing structural problems can be very costly. Addressing the cracks in the early stages of their formation will help to reduce the risks of developing structural problems.

Be sure to get in touch with a foundation repair contractor as soon as you spot cracks in your foundation. Take the steps to protect your property and household.

 

Common Mistakes When Repairing Bowed Basement Walls Philadelphia, PA

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Foundation Repair | Philadelphia, PA

Common Mistakes When Repairing Bowed Basement Walls

There are various mistakes that are made when repairing bowed basement walls. Some of the most common mistakes include:

  1. Focusing on the visible damage

When it comes to repairing bowed basement walls, it is vital that you look beyond the walls and the visible damage. Your approach to repairing these walls should instead be comprehensive. You should not only repair the damaged walls but also look to prevent future failure of the foundation.

Foundation Repair | Philadelphia, PA

 

It is important to have the damaged walls assessed by a professional foundation repair contractor. Proper diagnosis of the cause of foundation failure will help you determine the best solution for your foundation. It will ensure that no steps are missed in the repair.

  1. Focusing on sealing the cracks

Cracks are one of the most common signs of bowing walls. However, homeowners often miss this and focus on the cracks. They turn to DIY crack injection kits to fix the cracks and prevent water seepage.

Crack injections are an important tool for foundation repair. However, they are not effective when used in isolation. If you don’t deal with the cause of the cracks and bowing, you will essentially be building a dam that will burst when full. The forces acting against the wall will continue to increase. You may experience further cracking or even complete failure of the foundation wall in the future.

  1. Failing to address weak zones

Cracks are a sign of weakness in the wall caused by bowing. However, not all cracks are easily visible. Many homeowners focus on dealing with the visible cracks and forget that there could be hairline cracks in their walls pointing to other areas of weakness.

Ignoring other weak zones in the foundation can result in further damage even after the wall has been repaired. A thorough inspection of the foundation by a foundation repair contractor will reveal other areas of weakness that need to be addressed.

  1. Attempting to repair bowed basement walls on your own

There are many jobs that you can attempt to do yourself but repairing your basement walls isn’t one of them. This job calls for a professional. Basement walls bear the weight of the entire home. Mistakes made in repairing these walls will result in structural issues throughout the home.

If you want to safeguard the structural integrity of your property, contact a professional foundation repair contractor. Seek solutions that will deal with the root cause of the bowing as well as the bowing itself for long term benefits.

Contact the professionals at StablWall today! 866.782.5955

 

Ensure Your Foundation Repair Contractor Has Workers’ Compensation Insurance | Houston, TX

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Foundation repair, no matter how straightforward it seems, is never risk-free. There’s always a risk of someone getting injured during the project. For this reason, it is important to ensure that the contractor you hire has workers’ compensation insurance before you sign anything.

Why workers’ compensation insurance is important

If you choose to do business with a contractor that does not carry workers compensation coverage, you will be exposing yourself to the risk of being held liable in case an accident occurs on your property during the project. In case an accident occurs on your property during the project and an employee of the contractor is injured, you could be sued for compensation to cover the medical bills of the injured party.

Ensuring that the contractor you hire has adequate insurance coverage is your first line of defense against such claims. You can rest easy that you won’t be held liable for any accidents or injuries that may occur on your property while your foundation is being repaired.

Houston, TX | Workers Compensation

Confirming coverage

Many people will tell you to ask the contractor if they carry the right insurance coverage. Don’t take their word for it. They are business people trying to make a profit. Some of them will tell you what you want to hear in order to close the deal. You should take this a step further and ask for copies of the certificate.

Check to ensure that the insurance will still be valid while your foundation is being repaired. The insurance certificate will have the name of the insurance carrier, their contact information as well as the dates through which the insurance is valid. You may want to get in touch with the insurance carrier to verify the coverage.

Is your contractor exempt?

Some contractors may try to evade the insurance issue by telling you that they’re exempt. They therefore don’t have to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This is only true if the contractor has not employed anyone and is working on the job alone. This is almost impossible for a foundation repair contractor. Most jobs require at least two people. You should therefore be weary of a contractor that tells you they are exempt.

Checking to determine that your contractor carries workers’ compensation insurance is an important step in the hiring process. It will help to protect you from the risk of a lawsuit.

 

Wall Cracks | Atlanta, GA | StablWall

4 Signs Your Foundation Needs Help – Louisville, KY

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You may have just begun to notice cracking and shifting along your foundation walls, or perhaps they’ve been there for a little while and you’ve simply let them go. Either way, your foundation is an incredibly important and purposeful part of your home.

Below is a short list of 4 signs your foundation needs some professional attention. Taking action early will ensure your foundation stays safe and sturdy, for good.

  1. Cracks in the Drywall Upstairs. Drywall cracks upstairs can be a good indicator that something is going on with your foundation. Foundation shifting can strain the upper structure of your home, causing visible damage on your walls upstairs.
  2. Water and Vertical Foundation Cracks. A cracking foundation can be a sign that external pressure and water buildup are taking a toll on your foundation walls. Before repairing, you may want to consider a comprehensive drainage system to help relieve some of the water pressure around your foundation.
  3. Windows and Doors Difficult to Open Upstairs. Similarly to cracking drywall, you may experience some additional issues upstairs. As your foundation shifts, you may notice it’s a bit more difficult to open windows and sliding glass doors. This is due to your foundation shifting and stressing the upper floors of your home.
  4. Horizontal Foundation Cracks and Bowing Walls. Due to strong external pressures pushing in against your foundation walls, you may notice a large horizontal crack in the middle of your wall. This occurs mainly in cinder block walls, and is generally accompanied by the wall bowing in toward the middle. Bowing walls are a critical juncture in the life of your foundation; either repair immediately, or risk a potential wall collapse.
foundation repair

When You Should Replace Your Bowing Cinder Block Foundation Wall – Chicago, IL

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Bowing Cinder Block

Do you have a bowing cinder block foundation wall? You may be wondering whether you should have the wall replaced or repaired.

Without a doubt, the foundation is the most important part of the home. It is vital to the overall value of the home. A home with considerable damage to its foundation will be difficult to sell even if it is in the best location. A poor foundation makes the home a hazard to live in.

Foundation issues vary in their severity. There are some with slight bowing that can be repaired when caught in time. There are those in which the bowing is so severe that the entire foundation will require replacement.

Replacing a bowing cinder block foundation isn’t cheap. It’s therefore always a good idea to seek foundation repair as soon as you notice a problem with your foundation. Catching the problem in its early stages of development will help you avoid costly repairs down the road.

However, there are times when we miss the early signs of foundation damage and only notice when it’s too late. If you have a cinder block foundation, you’ll have to replace it if:

  • The mortar in between the blocks is eroding. Check to see if the mortar has become flaky or chalky. The wall should be replaced if the mortar is chipping away from the joints.
  • In some cases, the mortar may have weakened but is not flaking off the joints on its own. In these instances, you may find that pieces of the mortar fall away when you pull at them. This is also a sign that the wall needs to be replaced.
  • The blocks in the wall have been displaced to the point that the blocks in the bowing cinder block wall are no longer flush. You may notice a few blocks sticking out or some pushing inward.
  • The wall is bowing or tipping to the point that it cannot be straightened or strengthened by any of the available foundation repair systems including anchors and braces.
  • You notice spaces in the foundation wall that you can see through. There are some cases where you can even see the exterior of the home through these spaces.
  • Pieces of the blocks in the wall have begun to fall away.
  • There are large separation cracks resulting from the twisting of the block.

Many of these issues build up over time. Keep a close eye on your foundation to avoid having to replace your walls.

StablWall vs Steel Beams

Benefits of StablWall vs Steel Beams

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StablWall vs Steel Beams

When you are building a new house, it’s important to know the benefits of StablWall vs steel beams. The problem with steel beams is that they need to be installed by experts. If the installation process goes wrong, your entire project can be at risk. The role of steel beams is to strengthen the foundation walls. A wood framing is used to keep the beams in place. Unlike steel beams, StablWall is made from fibers that are easily attached to the wall.

Benefits of Installing StablWall

  • Stronger Walls

Because it uses the fiber technology, StablWall will strengthen the wall on a much larger area. The beams will have one point that is stronger than the rest. This makes the StablWall the safer choice. In the end, your goal is to protect your walls from bowing or cracking over time.

  • Save Space

StablWall is very thin and once you paint over it, you will have the impression that it’s not even there. This is not at all the case with a steel beam, which can be very visible and therefore less aesthetic. Owing to this advantage, with StablWall, you will not have any lost space. In the future, you might want to have a finished basement. Having more available space is always a good idea.

  • Simple Installation

If you want to repair your foundation with StablWall, you will not be required to perform any excavation. All you need is some epoxy to attach the sheets to the wall. Before you know it, the material becomes part of the wall and no one will be able to tell that there was any work done. If you ever plan to sell your house, this can help you get a better price.

  • Maintenance Free

Once you install the StablWall sheets, there is nothing more you should do. With other products, you might need to perform some maintenance chores from time to time.

StablWall is effective to prevent bowing, shifting, or cracking foundation walls. You can have a professional install it for you or you can do it yourself if you like to do DIY projects. Since they are easy to install, you will not need a lot of time to get the job done. The sooner you have stronger foundation walls, the safer you are. Study the benefits of StablWall vs steel beams and make the right choice for your family.

carbon fiber foundation repair

Here’s Why to Opt for Carbon Fiber Foundation Repair

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Carbon Fiber Foundation Repair

One of the scariest situations any homeowner can face is discovering their beautiful home has some form of foundation damage. Some of most common foundation issues include bowing and bulging, which cause foundation cracks. For most homeowners, such damage is discovered too late in the day when the situation has exacerbated. This is one reason professional foundation inspection is called for.

If you have noticed some form of foundation damage in your home, it is important to call in a certified contractor immediately. These professionals have the tools and expertise required to identify the underlying problem and propose the best foundation repairs. One of the most popular strategies in foundation repairs today is carbon fiber foundation repair and for many good reasons.

Carbon Fiber System in Brief

If you are looking for the most effective foundation repairs for your home, this should be the first choice when consulting with contractors. This foundation repair system leverages wall grade carbon fiber that has been used in other industries including space and major government contracts.

Foundation wall grade carbon fiber sheets are used to hold affected walls together using a specialized epoxy as the adhesive. It is a non-intrusive foundation repair option that helps to counter the pressure foundation walls have to contend with including hydrostatic and lateral earth pressures. This is the easiest technologies to use in wall repair and your foundation contractor must have it among the best solutions.

Among the advantages of deploying carbon fiber foundation repair include:

  1. Unrivalled strength: Carbon fiber boasts tensile strength of over 350,000 psi, which makes it 10X stronger than steel. These sheets hold together affected walls and because the material is lightweight and noncorrosive, you are guaranteed of optimal strength for your foundation.
  2. Easy installation: Compared to other intrusive foundation repair solutions such as installing steel beams, carbon fiber repairs are easier to install. This saves a lot of costs in equipment and personnel.
  3. Aesthetics: Foundation wall cracks diminish the aesthetics of your home but some of the repair solutions available make things worse. Luckily, for carbon fiber systems, the sheets can be painted over to give your home a makeover.
  4. Permanent foundation repairs: The best thing about carbon fiber is that the materials will not stretch or corrode. Better still, it adds strength to the repaired walls, making it a permanent solution to any type of foundation damage.

Carbon fiber foundation repair is the ultimate solution to bowed, cracked and bulging foundation. It is cheaper and easy to install, adds value to your property and does not affect the aesthetic look of your house.

bowed brick wall

Using StablWall to Repair Bowed Brick Wall

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Bowed Brick Wall

Any foundation wall problems in your home need to be treated as fast as possible. One of the most common problems associated with a new structure is bowed walls. A bowed brick wall is a warning sign of more underlying foundation problems. These problems could be caused by lateral pressure, clay brick, house settling, and tree root damage among other issues.

The problem with a bowing wall problem is the fact that most homeowners will not notice it until it is too late. In fact, most of these problems are discovered by contractors looking for causes of water entry, mold or other issues. All these are problems that emanate from bowing of the foundation walls, hence the need for quick repairs.

If you have noticed warning signs including uneven floors, water seepage into the basement, brick wall cracks among others, it is important to immediately call in a foundation contractor who will carry out a thorough inspection and recommend the best way forward.

Leveraging Carbon Fiber Technology

One of the most popular solutions to deal with a bowed foundation is using StablWall carbon fiber technology. This is a carbon fiber technology-based foundation wall repair system. It includes carbon fiber sheets that are bonded to the affected walls to prevent any further movement. Carbon fiber technology has been found to be 10X stronger than steel and provides a permanent solution to the problem.

There are many other advantages of using this technology over any other in foundation repairs. Take a look:

  1. Cost-savings: Unlike piering and other wall repair solutions, StablWall does not involve extensive excavations. This saves you a lot of money that would have otherwise gone into the cost of hiring equipment and personnel for the job.
  2. Stability: This foundation wall repair method offers a permanent solution to bowing. Carbon fiber sheets used will not stretch or corrode meaning the strength they provide is permanent.
  3. Low maintenance: No maintenance is required to the treated walls. Once the carbon fiber sheets are in place, you don’t have to worry about repairs because this is a permanent solution.
  4. Ease of installation: Unlike other solutions to a bowed brick wall, carbon fiber technology is easy to install. All you need are the carbon fiber sheets that will be fixed on the affected walls and permanently glued together with a special epoxy.

StablWall is one of the most popular construction technologies and you can now use it to give your house more strength and protect it from further deterioration.

step cracks

Foundation Step Cracks – Why You Should Be Concerned

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Foundation Step Cracks

Cracks are something that no homeowner ever wants to see in their walls. They especially never want to see them in their foundation walls. However, cracks do occur every once in a while. While some cracks are superficial resulting from the natural drying process, other cracks run deeper and are often a sign of a structural problem with the foundation.

It is important to be able to differentiate between structural and superficial cracks. This will let you know whether you should be concerned or not. It will also tell you when your foundation needs immediate attention.

Step Cracks

Masonry block foundations are built by stacking blocks on top of each other. The blocks are arranged in a staggered pattern to give the wall strength. Mortar is used between the blocks to form a bond.

Step cracks often appear on masonry foundation walls. Cracks occur along the weakest parts of the wall. When it comes to masonry block foundation walls, the weakest part is that between the blocks. This space consists of mortar that is used to bond the blocks together and form the wall. The appearance of these cracks is therefore a clear indication of foundation failure.

The cracks appear like stair steps. This is because they follow the spaces between the blocks.

Why Your Wall is Cracking

When you notice the cracks in your foundation, you may be wondering why they occurred in the first place. This type of cracks is an indication of foundation failure. This often occurs as a result of pressure acting against the wall from the exterior. When the pressure exceeds the resistance of the wall, the wall begins to bow inward. When it comes to a masonry block foundation wall, the bowing is first noticed as step cracks.

In some cases, the soil may be doing the opposite. It may not be providing adequate support for the foundation wall for example, during a drought when the soil shrinks away from the foundation wall. The wall bows outward due to a lack of support. The cracks form at the point of bowing.

What You Should Do

If you’ve noticed step cracks in your foundation wall, don’t attempt to repair the wall on your own. This is not a DIY job. It is a job that is dangerous and requires a great deal of skill and expertise to repair properly and safely. Get in touch with a basement repair professional with experience in dealing with bowing walls.

Bowing Cinder Block | Chicago, IL | StablWall

The Dangers of a Bowing Foundation Wall

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Bowing Foundation Wall

Have you noticed cracks on your foundation wall? These are some of the early signs of a bowing foundation wall. This is a serious problem that is caused by inward pressure acting against the foundation wall.

In many instances, the inward pressure is caused by soil or water in the soil. The bowing occurs when the pressure against the wall exceeds the strength of the wall to counteract it. The result is the inward bowing of the wall.

Why You Should Be Concerned

If you’ve noticed that you have a bowing foundation wall, it is important to get it attended to as soon as possible. The following are some reasons why bowing of the foundation walls shouldn’t be ignored:

  1. The wall may collapse

Ignoring the foundation wall is not the answer. Your situation will not get any better. It is only bound to get worse. If not attended to as soon as possible, the foundation wall is likely to collapse under the pressure acting against it. Your foundation is an integral part of your building. If it collapses, your building will not have the support it did before and is likely to collapse as well.

  1. Fixtures and pipes will be damaged

Whether the wall collapses or not, it will affect the fixtures and pipes that run along or within it. The bowing may result in bending of fixtures or increased pressure on fixtures. This will result in damage that can be expensive to repair. The damage may also result in a chain reaction of different problems including risks of electrocution, burst gas pipes and much more.

  1. Bowing may result in moisture problems

Wall cracks often characterize a bowing foundation wall. These cracks allow water from the surrounding soil to seep through. This will result in water problems in the basement including mold infestations, damp, rot, flooding and much more. These problems are not only a nuisance but may affect your health. They are also quite expensive to recover from.

  1. Bowing causes other structural problems

Even if the bowing in your foundation wall doesn’t appear severe, the truth is that it will cause other structural problems. You may experience sticking of windows or doors, cracks in doorways and other structural problems.

It is always a good idea to have a bowing foundation wall repaired as soon as you notice it. This will prevent the development of even more serious problems. Contact us today!