Are your basement walls cracked? Do you notice your basement walls curving more and more inward?
Concrete foundations are quite strong. However, they are under tremendous pressure from supporting the home and the soil that surrounds them. This pressure gets even worse when the soil expands as a result of absorbing water. The soil pushes against the basement wall. This normally occurs when there has been heavy rainfall.
The build-up of pressure against the foundation walls can be a greater problem when the grading of the ground around the foundation is inadequate. Water will tend to accumulate near the foundation and cause the soil to expand and exert pressure on the foundation walls.
The continued pressure exerted by the foundation walls will eventually result in a bowing foundation. This damage is normally first manifested as a horizontal crack in the foundation walls. Water may come through this crack and cause various moisture problems to the home.
Many home owners react to cracks in foundation walls by applying crack filing solutions. However, if the underlying problem is not dealt with adequately, further damage will occur. The pressure on the wall will continue and the bowed foundation wall is likely to collapse.
Repairing a bowing foundation
If you’ve attempted to carry out various projects around the home on your own, you probably feel like you can do just about anything if you learn more about it. However, foundations are not just any other part of the home. They are the part of the home that ensures that the rest of the structure is safe. It is, therefore, important to ensure that repair of a foundation is done well. You, therefore, need the assistance of a professional contractor.
There are two main ways of repairing a bowing foundation. Both of these methods involve retaining or bracing the walls. They are:
- Using steel bracing: This is an old method for fixing bowed walls. Steel beams known as channel beams are used to brace the wall. The beams are anchored to the foundation and the top is attached to the floor joist. The channel is tightened against the wall using a screw jack.
- Carbon fiber: This is a super strong and super light material. It is used in the construction of commercial aircrafts and automobiles. It has recently taken the construction world by storm and is currently replacing steel in various applications.
Strips of carbon fiber can be placed vertically at predetermined intervals to provide support to a bowing foundation.