Foundation wall cracks and bowing basement walls indicate that your foundation needs repair. Our carbon fiber basement wall repair solutions can help strengthen and fix cracks in your bowing walls.
Foundation cracks and bowing are significant issues that will deteriorate over time if not addressed. Our experienced foundation repair specialists can decide what circumstances contribute to the foundation damage.
We can determine if carbon fiber basement wall repair is the best solution for your foundation by appropriately diagnosing the purpose of the foundation problem.
Carbon fiber basement wall repair is recommended by HydroHelp911, mainly if they notice a bowed or cracked basement wall. A bowed basement wall is caused by excessive external pressure exerted on it. The soil begins to expand as water is absorbed along the home’s foundation into the ground. This expansion increases stress on the basement wall, causing it to push back. As the soil dries, it breaks away from the basement wall, resulting in weak spots along the border. Hence, the wall begins to crack and push inward.
Bowed Basement Wall Repair with Carbon Fiber Straps
We use carbon fiber basement wall straps for bowing basement wall repair. This system is the most significant market because it connects to the foundation base and the house framing. The carbon fiber system will not move again because it is sealed to the foundation wall. This is due to the even dispersion coming from external pressure.
Carbon fiber wall supports are installed within the basement, making it less inconvenient and less expensive than other basement wall repair options. The ultimate finish is soft, flat, and barely noticeable when painted.
What Exactly is Carbon Fiber Basement Wall Repair?
A dependable carbon fiber basement wall repair system can quickly strengthen bowing basement walls. This system provides a permanent solution for water damage stabilization and will not interfere with any other systems in your home.
Let’s take a deeper look at how carbon fiber basement wall repair system works, the benefits of a carbon fiber system, and how quickly it can be installed below.
HOW IT FUNCTIONS:
Professionals used to install steel I-beams vertically against the inside of your basement walls, anchoring them to prevent movement. While some basement wall repair professionals still use this method, many have found it far less effective than carbon fiber repairs.
The carbon fiber installments may appear to be ordinary straps laid flat against your basement wall at first glance. Though this is precisely what this system entails, the process is far more complicated than it appears.
The carbon fiber straps for basement wall repair will serve as the ideal buckle against any building stress or foundation degradation that is unavoidable over time. Once the system is properly installed, you can expect long-term protection that can withstand almost anything.
This is because carbon fiber is virtually indestructible. It consists of approximately 90% polyacrylonitrile and 10% rayon or petroleum pitch. These substances are classified as organic polymers. The precise amount of carbon in these fibers will differ from one company to another. Just keep in mind that they are simple to install and will not cause you any chemical harm.
Carbon Fiber Basement Wall Repair Benefits
Carbon fiber may appear flimsy, but it is solid. You can be confident that our carbon fiber basement wall repair straps will support your basement walls and foundation against every external wear!
It will not crush, extend, or tear at all under tension or extreme stress, especially when treated with an epoxy resin. Basement wall repair experts will also install a steel bracket near the floor joist at the top of the wall to add extra stability and support.
This is because carbon fiber is more substantial and more rigid than steel. As a result, these pieces are more robust than steel! This strength is multiplied when implemented into an epoxy resin. This is due to the carbon fiber blend’s use of a strong chemical epoxy, which forms an unbreakable bond between the high-density strands and the work surface it supports.
Its simple design makes it simpler for professionals to install quickly and with little risk of harm or error. Because of this, many experts now advise using carbon fiber straps rather than straight steel beams.
In short, carbon fiber basement wall repair solutions have the following advantages:
- Smooth Finish– Produces a smooth and flat finish quickly painted or finished without sacrificing space.
- Quick Installation– Typical installation time is 1-2 days.
- Strength- Carbon Fiber is the single most potent artificial material on the planet. Individually, these tiny fibers are solid, but when thousands of them are melded and tethered together, they are highly durable.
- Longevity– Once carbon fiber is bonded with an epoxy wall, it cannot deflect or move.
Carbon Fiber Installation Process for Basement Wall Repairs
PREPARATION OF THE WALL
Before you start, ensure your walls are clean and dry. We will grind or roughen the walls to ensure that the epoxy has a firm, permanent grip on them.
STRAP POSITIONING
A small portion of resin will be applied to the basement walls to aid in the adhesion of the strap as it is placed. Our basement wall repair team will cautiously fit the belt to your wall, as this will verify that no further movement occurs.
STRAPS ANCHORING
When every strap has been drawn through the bracket system, small steel brackets are connected to the sill plate on the wall’s top structure to anchor it.
APPLYING RESIN
Once the straps are securely fastened, they will be coated with resin to prevent them from peeling away from the wall over time. We take care to keep the smooth finish that homeowners prefer and will ensure that the straps blend in with the rest of your basement wall.
Although this installation procedure appears simple, house owners should not attempt it independently. Foundation experts can quickly identify which wall areas to target and brace. They will also understand if any other repairs are required before installing this system.
Also, know why NOT ALL Crawl Space Encapsulations Are The Same!
How does the carbon fiber strap solve the tilting wall problems?
Extra reinforcement is required when soil pressure causes the top of the foundation wall to tilt inward.
This is where our wall reinforcing system comes in handy. It is intended for use in combination with Carbon Fiber reinforcement.
A super-strong carbon fiber strap is fused to each strip and anchored to a heavy-duty steel bracket lag-screwed to the rim joist with our system.
By securing the foundation wall to the rim joist, soil pressure is prevented from pushing the top of the wall inward, away from the perimeter framing.
Because our system takes up so little space, ductwork and other basement equipment are rarely relocated.
Our specialists use Carbon Fiber strips to reinforce a repaired crack in the basement or foundation wall.
How are carbon strips helpful in reinforcing the foundation wall crack repairs?
To fill and lock a crack in a foundation wall, use polyurethane injection, epoxy, or patching mortar.
Regardless of the technique used, the repair can be reinforced with Carbon Fiber strips in a wall stitch repair.
An expert from HydroHelp911 will epoxy a series of strips across the crack, significantly improving the wall’s overall stability.
Carbon Fiber wall stitches provide unrivaled performance in making a concrete crack repair even more robust and stable.
What is the cause of a foundation's failure?
- Settling and the Clay Bowl Effect
The method used by contractors to build foundations also plays a significant role in their ultimate deterioration. Contractors typically excavate a large hole into which they then lay the foundation, as well as the floor and walls of your basement. Any remaining space around the structure is then backfilled with soil, forming a loose “clay bowl” around your foundation.
This soil will never compress again in the same way. Extreme storms could then wash away this loose soil, jeopardizing the support of your foundation. Your foundation will settle, collapse, and crack after the water has been washed away or evaporated.
- Hydrostatic pressure
The soil beneath your foundation is much looser than the soil directly beneath it, enabling more air and water pits to develop over time. This soil will then absorb far more moisture than it can hold.
The rapid ingestion of all that mass will place tremendous strain on your foundation. This pressure, known as hydrostatic pressure, has the potential to fracture your foundation completely.
During the winter, another form of this pressure may appear. Moisture may become trapped within the pores of your concrete foundation. They may even permeate the pores of your basement walls. This trapped moisture will thaw and crack your foundation, walls, or roof in the winter.
