Carbon Fiber Supports by HydroHelp911 foundation repair experts help support cracked or bowed walls in the same way that Wall Anchors do. They can be used on both poured concrete and block walls. They can be installed on the walls of a basement or crawl space. The Carbon Fiber Wall Support System is long-lasting and minimally invasive.
Because the structural repair does not necessitate excavation, it can be completed quickly and with minimal disruption to the home’s landscaping. The Carbon Fiber Support System provides additional protection against wall damage. It connects to the foundation and the house framing. The system is attached to the foundation wall, assisting in distributing the hydrostatic force pushing against the walls of your basement or crawl space.
Carbon Fiber Support Installation by HydroHelp911
Step 1:
The first step is determining where reinforcement is required and marking those areas on the wall. That equates to a strap every four feet for a typical bowed CMU wall. (ACI standards state that reinforcements of any kind should not be placed more than four times the thickness of the wall.) It means a staple every 12 to 24 inches for reinforcing epoxy crack repair.
Step 2:
Our foundation repair contractor then grinds away any paint, dirt, or other debris in the area where the carbon fiber will be installed. Many manufacturers recommend using epoxy or grout to fill cracks and mortar joints. This prevents wall movement and creates a smoother surface for maximum adhesion. The goal is to achieve a smooth and clean substrate.
Step 3:
After the aggregate has been exposed and smoothed and cracks have been filled, an epoxy primer coat is applied to the wall and the back of the carbon fiber product, which is carefully attached to the wall.
The carbon fiber support material must be impregnated entirely with epoxy. On the job site, some products are “wet-laid.” Others are “pre-preg,” so only a primer coat is required. Some manufacturers need the second coat of epoxy to ensure good adhesion; for others, the primer coat is sufficient.
Carbon Fiber Support Applications for Basement Repair
CARBON FIBER SUPPORT STRAPS
Possibly the most well-known carbon fiber support repair product, manufactured by foundation repair experts. Concrete block (CMU) walls are prone to bowing, and carbon fiber straps can stabilize the wall faster than any other basement repair solution.
The carbon fiber support straps are four inches wide and run nearly from floor to ceiling. Unlike a steel beam, which would only make contact with the wall in the middle of the bow, the carbon fiber support straps provide support along the entire length of the belt, effectively locking the wall into place.
CARBON FIBER SUPPORT SHEETS
Carbon fiber support sheets are not mechanically appended to the sill plate or floor. Still, they are an excellent choice for eliminating bowing and cracking in nearly all CMU wall situations.
Sheets have the most significant advantage in terms of customer satisfaction. The benefits include the customer’s impression and level of confidence. They are relieved to have a larger footprint on the wall.
Installation is similar to that of the carbon fiber support strap products. Because the fibers must be fully saturated in resin, most of these products require a second coat of epoxy after the sheet adheres to the wall.
Many problems that straps cannot solve can be solved by carbon fiber support sheet. For example, because they are more adaptable, they comply better with irregular shapes, making them ideal for circular or square columns.
It is much less expensive than traditional remediation because it does not require the use of jackhammers, among other things.
Sheets can be used to repair cracks near the corners of a foundation or cracks emanating from doors and windows in a residential setting.
CARBON FIBER SUPPORT STAPLES
Carbon fiber staples can be a significant benefit for poured walls.
Low-pressure epoxy injection is commonly used to fill large cracks in poured walls. Epoxy is more potent than concrete, and it glues the wall back together. The issue is that when there is any movement, the crack will reappear at the concrete/epoxy glue line. Carbon fiber staples have the potential to solve the problem.
The Advantages of Carbon Fiber Repair
- The repair is almost invisible because the thin carbon fiber is flush with the wall. After you paint over it, it will be barely visible. In comparison, consider the bulky steel I-beams.
- Revival of your foundation wall’s structural integrity – Carbon fiber is robust despite its thinness.
- It is effective on all types of cracks, including vertical, horizontal, stairstep, and hairline cracks.
A few other advantages of carbon fiber support are:
- Affordability: One of the most appealing aspects of carbon fiber is its low cost for foundation repair. Carbon fiber installation is typically less than half the steel beam installation cost.
- Visual Attraction: For starters, carbon fiber strips are thin less than an inch thick. Small bumps may be visible, but once the carbon fiber is painted over, you won’t be able to tell if the wall supports are there. There will also be no visible marks or seams. You can cover up the repairs by constructing a stud wall if you have an unfinished basement.
- Installation is quick and straightforward: Carbon fiber installation is astonishingly quick professionals can complete repairs in about a day. The carbon fiber support repair professionals lay carbon fiber fabric over cracks, apply epoxy adhesive, and dry their work. Another advantage of carbon fiber installation is that it is non-intrusive, as contractors do not need to dig or drill with heavy equipment to install it. The professionals will not even need to access ductwork or plumbing; they will need to push the strips against the walls gently.
- Superior tenacity: Carbon fiber fabric is made up of thousands of solid strands, and despite being lightweight, it is extremely tough. It will not bend, break, or stretch in high temperatures, and it will not deteriorate. Furthermore, carbon fiber has an extremely high tensile strength up to ten times that of steel.” Carbon fiber is a trusted material for bulletproof vests, commercial aircraft, race cars, and other critical pieces of equipment due to its strength. In addition, carbon fiber’s tensile strength makes it the ideal defense against hydrostatic pressure.
- Less maintenance: Another advantage of carbon fiber support is that you won’t have to pay attention to it after the professionals have installed it. Because homeowners do not need to inspect or touch the carbon fiber strips, you will save money and time on maintenance.
Watch to learn more: This Is Why Gutters Are Important To Your Foundation!
WHAT CAUSES CRACKS AND WALL SHIFTING OR BOWING?
The following are the most frequent causes of wall cracks, shifts, and bowing:
- Outside soil pressure causes inward movement.
- The outward motion is caused by soil shrinkage, such as when it dries out in the summer.
- Shear forces caused by faulty support or an uneven foundation.
- Cracks appear due to thermal conditions such as rain, temperature, poorly placed gutters, and poor drainage.
- Cracks close due to thermal conditions such as drought, temperature, soil shrinkage, and poor drainage.
WHY ARE CARBON FIBER STRAPS REQUIRED?
Carbon fiber straps are used to secure foundation walls that have been badly cracked or begun to bow. When hydrostatic pressure develops outside the foundation wall, a basement wall typically begins to “give way.”
HOW IS HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE CREATED?
The force that water can exert against your foundation wall is hydrostatic pressure. When there is too much water in the ground outside your home, the soil becomes completely saturated. This expansion of the soil – and the water pressure within it is what causes your foundation to deteriorate. In another blog, we detail hydrostatic pressure and why it is essential to homeowners.
You must understand that certain soil types are more vulnerable to hydrostatic pressure than others. Expansive soil is soil that contains a significant amount of clay.
IS CARBON FIBER A VIABLE SOLUTION FOR MY BOWED BASEMENT WALL?
This inward pressure builds up over time, eventually cracking your foundation. The first cracks usually appear near the frost line. With as minimum as 550 pounds of force, these cracks will appear. If you have a concrete driveway or patio, this will put a lot of strain on the soil and hasten the cracking of your foundation walls. It is important to note that a crack in your foundation is only a sign of external pressure; contrary to popular belief, “relieve” the stress. Foundation cracks will typically grow, lengthen, and widen until adequately addressed.
Carbon fiber straps, when properly installed, will create a repair that is stronger than steel beams increasing the strength of your foundation to withstand 50,000 psi.
When it comes to Basement Waterproofing, Crawl Space Repair, Foundation Repair, Crawl Space Encapsulation, Termite Damage Repair & Mold Removal – HydroHelp911 is the name North Carolina residents count on!
