Bowing Foundation Walls
Foundation walls are already under a lot of pressure from supporting the building above them as well as the soil around them. However, they can come under even more stress when there is inconsistent pressure against them. The integrity of the foundation wall can be put at risk from inconsistent pressure, especially during times of extreme rainfall or drought.
When there is extreme drought, the soil that supports the foundation walls dries and shrinks away from the foundation. Gaps are formed between the foundation wall and surrounding soil leaving little support for the foundation wall. During seasons of heavy rainfall, water seeps into the soil and increases the amount of hydrostatic pressure against the foundation wall as the soil expands to accommodate more water. These extremes result in bowing foundation walls.
Are your foundation walls bowing?
Foundation walls are considered to be bowed or bulging when a part of the wall is pushed inward. This point should be pushed further inward than the bottom or top of the wall. The bowing or bulging occurs before any cracks begin to present themselves. The bulging is therefore the first sign of bowing foundation walls.
Many people mistakenly believe that the absence of cracks is a good sign that the wall is still strong. Even when the bow in a foundation wall is minimal, it is a sign of weakening in the structure of the foundation. When the bulge becomes more pronounced, you may need to rebuild the foundation.
Cracking in bowing foundation walls begins on the exterior surface of the walls. There is tremendous downward pressure on the walls. It takes some time for the cracks to appear on the interior surface. Cracks usually present themselves as step cracks. However, they may begin as horizontal cracks that develop into step cracks over time. The steps occur along mortar joints.
Step cracks differ from horizontal and vertical cracks in that the wall pulls in all four directions. In vertical and horizontal cracks, the parts of the wall on the opposing sides pull away from each other. Stabilization in walls with step cracks must therefore be carried out in all four directions.
If you notice step cracks in your foundation wall, contact a professional contractor as soon as possible. These cracks are a sure sign of bowing or bulging of foundation walls. If the bowing or bulging has not occurred by the time the step cracks have appeared, it is likely to begin soon after.
Repair of bowing or bulging foundation walls should be carried out by professional contractors only. This ensures that the best solution is applied and safety is observed.
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