It’s tough to complete a basement or add living space with bowed basement walls. Bowed basement walls, moreover, are a structural threat. Professionals should handle the problem and make any necessary repairs to bowing the basement walls most of the time. As a DIY project, you’ll want to know the particulars of how specialists will fix the issue, plus find out ways to prevent more bowing.
Basement bowed wall repair is a problem that both homeowners and builders confront regularly. You might believe it’s time to pull down the drywall and start over when your basement walls droop or bulge. However, before you do so, give our team a call for a free consultation.
We employ cutting-edge techniques to reinstall your basement walls without pulling them down and starting over, saving you thousands of dollars in renovation fees! We can restore even the most seriously damaged walls with our patented technology, proven to work on countless homes! From tiny cracks in concrete block foundations to major foundation settling difficulties, we’ve seen it all.
What Are Bowed Basement Walls?
Basement walls that bow or curve from the exterior to the inside are bowed basement walls. You should see a convex or bulging wall if you stand within the basement and stare at the bowed wall. Inward deflection is a term used to describe this phenomenon.
Basement walls that have bowed are frequently cracked as well. Vertical or horizontal cracks may exist; however, due to the orientation of the bend in the walls, the majority are flat. During the rainy season, these gaps may widen, and during the dry season, they may close. In addition, bowed basement walls may be stained with water, mold, or mildew due to the fissures or with white efflorescence caused by mineral deposits from water leaks.
What Causes Basement Wall Problems?
The pressure imposed by the dirt surrounding the wall causes damage, fissures, and inward bowing on basement walls. After absorbing moisture, the soil expands, increasing the pressure against a basement wall. This continuous process of expansion and stress can eventually lead walls to crack or bow as the years pass. Our Huntersville foundation specialists can repair basement walls all across the city.
OTHER REASONS BASEMENT WALLS NEED REPAIRS TO INCLUDE:
- Poor construction job
- Deterioration over time
- Plumbing problems and leaks
- Tree root invasion
Watch our video on basement waterproofing:
Assessing Bowed Basement Walls
It is helpful to evaluate the degree of deflection before consulting with a basement bowed wall repair service or get an idea of the cost of restoring the bowed basement walls. But, then, a ruler and a weighted thread are all you’ll need.
- Hold a string against the basement ceiling weighted with a heavy bolt at the bottom.
- Bring the line up against the wall until it reaches the most inwardly bowed portion.
- Allow assistance to measure the distance between the string and the furthest outward piece of the wall with a ruler. The deflection distance is the resultant figure.
Signs Your Basement Walls Need Repairs
There are a few telltale signs that there is a problem with the walls in your basement. Most likely, you’ll observe that the walls are uneven. If you’re concerned that your basement walls need to be repaired, look out for these signs:
- The brick or concrete blocks have “stair-step” fissures around them.
- You notice a lean toward the top in your walls.
- The wall’s bottom looks to be creeping inward.
- The division has oblique fissures that you can see.
How to Repair or Reinforce Bowing Basement Walls?
After determining the extent of the bowing, a professional can repair or alleviate the problem using one of three methods:
- Basement wall braces (which push or hold the wall from the inside).
- Anchor systems (which pull on the wall from the outside to correct it).
- Basement wall replacement.
Different Repair Methods for Bowed Walls
Depending on your budget and the severity of the problem, there are numerous options for repairing a bent wall. Here is the summary of the most popular ways to fix a bent wall:
CARBON FIBER STRAPS
Adding carbon fiber straps which are set in an epoxy resin to a block or poured concrete wall can provide additional stability.
HELIX ANCHORS
Vertically screwed into the foundation wall’s dirt are wall tie backs. A plate is affixed to the inside of the basement wall or crawlspace to support the bowed wall. If a complete recovery is sought, the dirt on the outside of the wall must be removed so that the wall can be torqued back to its original position.
BRACKETS AND PILES
Because some bowed walls are caused by foundation settling, frames and piles may be required to keep the foundation from moving downhill.
REMOVING GROUNDWATER OR TREES
Dealing with the causes of a bowed wall is a significant part of solving them. First, groundwater and roof water should be directed away from the foundation, as this additional water might cause the soils to expand even more. In addition, the foundation wall may be influenced by the freezing of this water. As a result, we propose that all downspouts be directed at least 10 feet away from the foundation wall and that the land around the home be graded to direct water away from it.
REPLACEMENT OF BASEMENT WALLS
Basement walls that deflect more than 6 inches must usually be dismantled andreplaced entirely. This is the most costly alternative, but it is also long-term.
How to Prevent Basement Walls from Bowing?
Although repairing bent basement walls is not a do-it-yourself project, prevention is. You may prevent basement walls from bowing after repairs as a homeowner by doing the following:
- To prevent water from accumulating near basement walls, repair downspouts and gutters.
- Create a solid drainage system that includes catching basins that channel water away from the house.
- To collect groundwater, construct a French drain.
- Grading soil away from home is always a good idea.
- Quick-draining sand or pebbles can replace expansive soils found against basement exteriors.
- Heavy things, such as machinery or hot tubs, should be removed (unless the weight is well-distributed on a concrete pad).
Basement wall cracks can be pretty dangerous. This is especially true and correct if the gaps or fissures are near where electrical wiring, plumbing, or gas lines have been installed.
Cracks in basement walls often go undiscovered for years until they become more prominent and visible. These small surface cracks will gradually grow into larger holes, compromising the structural integrity of your home’s foundation walls if not addressed.
Contact HydroHelp911 for Free Basement Wall Inspection
HydroHelp911 is your go-to for high quality basement repair services. Our devoted crew has years of experience in this business and understands the need to get things done fast and efficiently without sacrificing quality or detail. So please don’t put it off any longer; call us today at 704-741-9737 to set up an appointment for skilled bowing wall repair.
CAN BOWING BASEMENT WALLS BE DANGEROUS?
The fear of bowing basement walls is something that almost every homeowner can agree on. One of the issues with this thing happening to walls is that it looks to happen out of nowhere. Most likely, it’s been happening steadily over time until you see the bowling or a bulge in the wall one day. When you first see it, worry comes in, and you start to question how hazardous bowing walls are. The quick answer is that they are dangerous; however, the good news is that they can be rectified.
- Foundation walls that are kneeling, unfortunately, are a danger.
- Walls are likely to collapse.
- Serious cracks can form.
- If repairs and renovations are not done in time, the walls may collapse.
- In some situations, your home’s entire structure may be jeopardized.
WHAT IS THE COST OF REPAIRING BOWED BASEMENT WALLS?
The cost of repairing both basement walls is determined by the degree of bowing and the location of your home. More inwardly bending walls necessitates expensive repair methods, including significant outside digging. If you reside in an area where many basements bow, there is a more active market for this type of repair, which means you’ll have more options and a better chance of receiving competitive bids.
- Low: The cost of repairs for modestly bowing basement walls might range from $4,000 to $8,000.
- Mid-range wall bows: ranging from 3 to 4 inches, could cost between $8,000 and $15,000. If helical tie-backs are needed, each tie-back can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,000, with overall project costs averaging $18,000 to $20,000.
- High: Severely bowed basement walls with a deflection of 6 inches or more will most certainly cost $25,000 or more to repair because the entire basement wall will need to be replaced.New Paragraph
