What To Do About Bowing Basement Walls

Posted by StablWall Structural Strengthening System on

Bowing concrete block walls in your basement is not a situation to ignore. If your block walls are bowing it means there is pressure pushing against the foundation wall from the outside. If you leave it alone, that pressure will keep pushing and could cause the wall to collapse.

This pressure can be from hydrostatic pressure building up in the soil outside the foundation wall. Tree roots can also push against block walls and cause them to bow. Deterioration, settlement and shrinkage all can cause foundation cracks that could result in a weaken foundation that is more susceptible to bowing.

It is important to determine the cause of the bowing basement walls in order to permanently fix the problem. Remove the cause. If it is hydrostatic pressure, a waterproofing system and proper yard drainage will alleviate the problem. If it is a tree root you may consider removing the tree that is causing the issue.

Removing the issue is just the first step. Most likely even after you remove the cause your wall will still be bowed and in need of repair. There are several foundation repair methods to save your foundation wall.

Steel I-Beams

Steel I-beams are installed from the inside of the basement. You secure steel beams in place to brace the bowing wall. It is important that this system is also tied into the frame work of the house to make sure it is set in place. This system braces the wall and prevents it from moving any more. It doesn’t straighten the wall back in place. Because these braces are straight steel beams they only will support where the wall is bowing at its worst. This system tends to be more expensive and homeowners don’t like how big and bulky they are. The basement can be finished with a steel I-beam system but several inches are taken out of the area of the basement because of the system’s size. The steel I-beam system is also just a bracing system. It doesn’t resolve any of the causes or straighten the wall.

Wall Anchors

Wall anchors are a wall straightening system that pulls the wall back in place from the outside of the wall. An earth anchor is drilled into place from the outside of the wall and a plate is anchors to the wall from the inside of the wall. The exterior earth anchor is tied to the interior wall plate with a connecting steel rod. There are two basic types of wall anchors: helical wall anchors and basic foundation anchors. The helical wall anchor has a corkscrew end that attaches to the wall plate and a basic foundation anchor is tied with a steel rod. The steel rod is tightened between the anchor and the steel plate and the tightening process is repeated to slowly straighten the wall.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is another foundation repair method for bowing basement walls. The carbon fiber sheet is installed over the bowing wall and tied into the wood framing with ties. This system is similar to the steel I-beams without the bulky beams. It is attached with epoxy to brace the wall. Carbon fiber comes in sheets or strips. It is actually stronger than steel but ultra light so there isn’t the same labor costs to install this system.

Rebuild The Block Wall

In extreme cases, a foundation repair contractor may suggest jacking up your house and rebuilding your block wall foundation. This method is an extreme solution and should be looked at as a last resort. However, if the integrity of the block wall is compromised then a compete tear-down and rebuild may be your only answer.

Bowing Walls: What Do I Do?

Posted by StablWall Structural Strengthening System on

Bowed basement walls result from too much pressure pushing up against basement walls. The pressure can build up from any number of factors including heavy rain, poor drainage in the soils surrounding the basement walls, buildup of underground water or inadequate grading of the basement walls.

When soil absorbs water, it expands. The same applies to the soil surrounding your basement walls. The expanding soil therefore presses against the foundation walls resulting in the buildup of pressure on the walls.

If the pressure continues unchecked, the walls will begin to cave in. Damage on the walls may begin as a horizontal crack or a leak in the foundation joints. If the problem is left unaddressed, the walls will begin to bow inward. These walls will eventually collapse causing your home to become unstable.

What You Shouldn’t Do

First of all, it is important to remember that fixing bowed walls is not a ’Do-It-Yourself’ job. It is something that you ought to leave to a professional foundation repair contractor. A professional will have the right training, skills, experience and equipment to repair bowing walls.

Trying to fix your own walls is dangerous and may end in a catastrophe for you and your home. Professionals are trained and understand the safety measures to take to ensure that there are no accidents.

It is also important to remember that quick fixes will not address the underlying problem with your foundation. So ensure that you have a long-term solution to save your foundation and your home. Applying quick fixes will only result in a more expensive problem as the damage continues to get worse.

What You Should Do

If you notice that you have bowing walls, contact a professional foundation repair contractor in your area as soon as possible. The contractor will come to your home and inspect the foundation walls. Then he will provide you with an estimate of how much it would cost to repair the wall.

Avoid using a contractor who gives you a quotation for the job without examining your foundation. A thorough examination of the foundation is the only way to identify the underlying problem and determine the best solution for the basement wall repair.

It is important to begin your search for foundation repair contractors as early as possible. This will ensure that you can shop around and compare prices and services. You will find a reliable contractor when you have enough time to look for one.

Bowing Walls are Serious Business

Posted by StablWall Structural Strengthening System on

The foundation of a building is the most important part of the structure. When foundations fail it is serious business. In concrete block foundations the most common failure is when pressure builds up on the outside wall pushing against the wall making it bow. Bowing walls are dangerous. If left alone, a bowing wall can collapse. 

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Because of its dangerous nature, a professional foundation repair contractor should fix the work. It is not recommended for the average homeowner to do a foundation repair on a bowing concrete block wall himself. Unless you are professionally trained and skilled, do NOT try a DIY foundation repair.

Bowed concrete block walls need to be braced. Contractors have different techniques to accomplish this. Steel I-beams have been around for decades and are still used today. They basically build a steel frame to brace the bowing wall so it doesn’t move any more.

Carbon Fiber uses this same idea to hold the bowing wall. The difference is in the application, labor and final look. Carbon Fiber is quicker to install. Because it is lightweight it doesn’t take as much labor. Carbon Fiber is flush with the wall so it can be covered with wall board or painted to blend in with the basement wall. Steel I-beams don’t hide as easily.

Wall anchors are another option to fix bowing concrete walls. Helical wall anchors come from the outside of the foundation wall and essentially realign the bowed wall. They stay in place to prevent future movement. This technique is for severe damage. It is an invasive system that excavates part of the yard. There are different types of wall anchors. Some are installed on the interior side of the basement and go through the wall and anchored in the soil. Some are installed only on the exterior side of the wall. That depends on the manufacturer and the individual wall anchor systems.

The other course of action is completely replacing the foundation wall. This is the most expensive and most invasive option. This is where a contractor will support the house with piers, take down the damaged block wall foundation and rebuild that portion of the foundation wall. This option is only considered when there is so much damage and deterioration that the other wall support options will not work. If there is extensive damage that has been ignored this may be the only option left.