Basement Bowed Wall Repair in Charlotte, NC
When a foundation wall cracks, it needs to be fixed, much like a broken bone. If it was to fail, it must be set back in place and held firm to recover. Depending on how critical the break is, it may necessitate metal plates and pins for the bone to retrieve health.
The resolutions for a bowing basement wall are primarily similar to this. And like a fractured bone, you should seek professional help immediately. Regrettably, bowing walls are not a domain for a DIY repair; the techniques and equipment expected are well exceeding the scope of a homeowner, no matter how skilled. However, we’ve restored hundreds of homes since our start and will guide you on the best practices and their respective values.
Please Note: Fixing a bowing foundation wall does not always mean straightening it. The goal of the repair is to maintain and secure it in place.
THE PROBLEM? HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE? REALLY?
Generally, a bowing wall is formed by hydrostatic pressure. As a result, the clay around your residence is saturated with water. It drives the ground to develop and press against your foundation. These circumstances are expected in Indiana during snow melts and spring rains but can also be affected by poor drainage around your house.
If your downspouts are draining rainwater too close to the house, or if you reside in an area with a high water table, you may necessitate some foundation water drainage in addition to wall repairs.
Please view this video for further information:
NOW, IT’S TIME TO REPAIR YOUR BOWED BASEMENT WALLS:
A carbon-fiber-reinforced network system enduringly stabilizes bowed foundation walls with the least disruption and no excavation.
The basement’s worst enemy is indistinct soils, whether the antagonists are expansive clay, compressible, or improperly compacted fill. These soils create a sneaky invasion by leaving foundations intermittently maintained, triggering settlement plus cracking. They can also barrage basement walls with parallel loads, creating barriers to bow inside. As numerous homeowners can attest, the battle scars from all this damage can be disastrous to real estate costs.
Luckily, it’s likely to rescue sinking foundations by using hydraulically driven piles or piers. But what about those bowed and cracked walls? How do you fix bowed basement walls and restore their fundamental purpose?
HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE FURTHER ACTION WITHOUT TURNING THE BASEMENT INTO A WAR ZONE OF STEEL SUPPORT COLUMNS?
There are three generally used methods for repairing basement walls depending on the situation and type of damage:
- Crack repair amidst carbon fiber staples
- Bowed wall support and cracked repair by carbon fiber bands
- Bowed wall support and release of pressure with helical ties
Depending on the condition, one can use these three techniques separately or in sequence.
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO REPAIR CRACKS WITH CARBON FIBER STAPLES
Cracked walls with only implanted material may suffer long-term creep and exhaustion, causing collapse due to foundation change over time. By cross-stitching cement crack repairs with staples, this creep is discharged, and the long-term performance of the repair material increases.
The staples are manufactured of high-tensile-strength carbon fiber encapsulated in a thermal-set resin and kept under pressure while manufacturing. A peel-ply fabric has adhered to the pins, and when raised, it transmits a qualified bonding covering ready for adhesion to a prepped substrate. A manual vacuum lamination method ensures a void-free bond of the staples on firmly deflected walls.
ADVANTAGES OF APPLYING CARBON FIBER FOR FOUNDATION REPAIRS
For homeowners, a carbon fiber method offers various vital benefits:
- It is guaranteed to maintain foundation walls into lateral loads enduringly.
- Installation is fast with minimum disruption and jumble.
- No removal of property is required.
- It does not create obstructions in the room that can decrease floor area.
- The reinforcing element will not deteriorate, rust, or fade over time.
- The reconstructed surface can be painted over.
- The house preserves a more formidable resale value than if fixed with more prominent steel options.
USING WALL ANCHORS
If your wall is bowing more than 2 inches, we utilize wall anchors alternatively. These require more than straps for two goals. First, they need the contractor to dig outside the basement wall and include more steel elements.
You’ll need at least 10 feet of a usable area outside the basement to install an anchor. Next, a steel plate is attached to the basement wall, another steel plate is concealed in the yard, and a steel shaft joins the two together.
As the steel rod is tightened, it pulls on the wall, and the anchor in the yard endures it fast. Therefore, anchors should be installed about every 5 feet along the bowing wall.
USING HELICAL TIEBACKS
If your wall is bending too much for straps and the property order doesn’t allow for anchors, helical tiebacks are the most suitable choice. This is the most reliable method but also the costliest. An iron beam with helical (screw-like) plates on the end is drilled on edge through the land outside of your basement.
The beam is fastened to the inside of the basement wall with a long steel plate or channel, then twisted to a particular torque that holds it tight. Regularly, tiebacks are 14-21 feet long, but in some instances, longer lengths are required to get the proper “grip” on the soil.
USING WALL STRAIGHTENING
We stated earlier that fixing a bowed wall does not mean returning it to plumb. However, if you favor restoring your earlier curved wall to its pre-bowing state, wall straightening is an option. Nevertheless, for us at HydroHelp911, it is not a regular service because it is more invasive to your residence and property and is more costly but can be accomplished if chosen by the homeowner.
To align the wall, a contractor will dig outside of your foundation to reach the exterior of the wall. It relieves the pressure on the ground. Then utilizing hydraulic jacks inside the basement, they’ll shift the bowing wall back into position.
Once straightened, it is secured, usually by carbon fiber straps. However, aligning the wall does not negate the necessity for straps- if the wall has failed once, it is expected to do so again at a later date if there’s no reinforcement to strengthen it.
Have questions about Basement Bowed Wall Repair? We'll Give You Solid Answers.
How to fix cracked, bowing walls?
There are various ways to fix a wall before it fails. The most reliable method for your house will depend on how extensive the deflection is. Carbon fiber straps are the ideal solution if a wall is only cracked or bowing less than 2 inches. If the wall is bowing more significantly, you’ll need to examine wall anchors and helical tiebacks. HydroHelp911 has a complete guide to foundation repair here that goes into more depth.
What should I do if my foundation wall is bowing?
As a usual rule of thumb, when a wall is bowing or bending inside more than 60% of the width – For instance, an 8″ thick wall leading in more than 4″ – the wall needs to be demolished and reconstructed. Consequently, if you see a crack or any change whatsoever in a wall – no matter how slight – you should reach out to a foundation repair expert quickly for an examination.
In other terms, you should never neglect your foundation to the point where it ends up bowed. Any cracks or internal movement of a wall are not OK. The quicker you catch this problem, the less costly it will be to fix.
Will Repairing My Basement Make New Cracks?
Your basement repair may end up with your existing cracks, and there is also a possibility that it could open up new ones. The primary purpose of the method is to make sure that your house is as near to the original level as possible, and we constantly try to reduce damage.
Should I purchase a home with bowing foundation walls?
If you’re thinking of acquiring a house with one or more bowing walls, call either an expert foundation repair contractor or a structural engineer, and have them perform an investigation. They will be capable of telling you what’s wrong and how you can fix it. The basement repair contractor will also furnish you with an estimate of how much it will cost to fix the damage. You can then calculate this into your proposal.
Remember, bowing walls are a sign of elemental damage. Never buy a house with bowing foundation walls unless you first have the problem investigated by an experienced foundation contractor.
Your Basement Bowing Wall Repair Contractors in Charlotte, NC.
At HydroHelp911, we want to help restore your bowing, tilting, or shifting foundation walls back to their initial, structurally stable position.
When it comes to Basement Waterproofing, Basement Bowing Wall Repair, Crawl Space Repair, Foundation Repair, Crawl Space Encapsulation, Termite Damage Repair & Mold Removal – HydroHelp911 is the name Charlotte, NC residents count on!
