Repairing Bowing Foundation Walls (Wall Bracing)
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Repairing Bowing Foundation Walls in the Chicagoland Area
Unstable soils, improper construction techniques, and inadequate drainage can be your basement’s worst enemy. The team at Reliable Basement Service is here to help homeowners by repairing bowing foundation walls. If your foundation suffers from any of the above conditions, you may experience cracking and settling in your house’s foundation. Basement walls can bow inward, causing structural and cosmetic damage, lowering property values. The good news is you don’t have to live with bowing foundation walls. The team at Reliable Basement Services uses steel I-beams and carbon fiber straps to repair foundation walls. We specialize in foundation repair of all types, so learn more and get in touch with us today to schedule your free inspection and quote.
The Causes of Bowing Walls
Foundation walls can bow for multiple reasons, including old age, cracking, poor construction, mortar deterioration, lateral pressure, vehicle loading and hydrostatic pressure. Bowed walls are relatively common in older homes in Chicago because they’ve endured years of freeze and thaw cycles as well as soil settlement. Many houses were just not built properly, such as those that do not have rebar, have improper backfilling, have failing or no drainage systems, have a negative grading can all experience foundation bowing. Hydrostatic pressure, commonly known as water pressure, builds up in the soil outside your home and is a common cause of bowing foundation walls. When water in the ground freezes during cold Illinois winters, it expands, eventually it thaws and contracts. This process of the freeze-thaw cycle results in the soil pushing against your foundation walls and is why most bowed walls occur just below the frost line.
The Benefits of Carbon Fiber Wall Supports
Carbon fiber wall supports are one of the two types of foundation wall bracing that Reliable Basement Services specializes in. Carbon Fiber Straps are one of the strongest bowing wall repair methods available. Bowed and/or cracked walls can be repaired with carbon fiber straps, and structural cracks can be repaired using carbon fiber staples. A carbon fiber strap system is applied to bowed walls on the interior or exterior surface of the wall. The process is quick and easy. Most carbon fiber strapping project can be finished in two days. The product is extremely strong while also minimizing the space it occupies. Carbon fiber can permanently stabilize your home’s bowed foundation walls. Using carbon fiber only requires minimal disruption, with no excavation necessary when applied on the interior. Carbon fiber is also more efficient than other methods of reinforcing bowed walls. Our team grinds the walls to prep each strap location, applies a specialized epoxy using a static mixer to bond the carbon fiber to the wall, and the straps are then anchored to the rest of the structure using specialized brackets. The process is complete once the epoxy cures, which is generally only about an hour, depending on the temperature.
Carbon fiber systems offer many benefits to homeowners, including:
- Permanently stabilizing your home’s foundation walls against lateral loads
- No excavation of your property is required
- Fast installation with minimal mess and disruption
- No obstructions in rooms, meaning no reduced floor space
- Reinforcing materials do not weaken, corrode, or gather mildew
- Repaired surfaces may be painted or covered
- Homes with carbon fiber have higher resale values than those with obtrusive steel solutions
The Benefits of Steel I-Beam Wall Supports
Steel I-beams offer many benefits to homeowners, including:
- Permanently stabilizing your home’s foundation walls against lateral loads
- No excavation of your property is required
- Can repair any amount of bowing or cracking no matter how severe
- Can be used on homes that have no sill plate or an inaccessible sill plate
- Reinforcing materials do not weaken or gather mildew
- Can be used on surfaces that are not continuous
Steel I-beam wall supports are one of the two types of foundation wall bracing that Reliable Basement Services specializes in. Steel I-beams are one of the strongest bowing wall repair methods available. Steel I-beams are used in all the situations where carbon fiber products are not suitable for one reason or another. The most common situation is when there is a foundation that is so damaged it is no longer continuous. This could be evidenced by a kink in the wall or the units. Could be a situation where the wall has shifted so the upper section over hangs the lower. One thing that carbon fiber straps require is access to the sill plate. If the sill plate is obstructed, missing or set so far back that tools cannot reach it steel I-beams are the next best solution. The beams can be installed with bottom brackets or integrated into the footing of the building itself. The main draw back to this solution is that I-beams take up space. Where a carbon fiber product is only about 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick, most steel I-beam solutions will protrude into the living space by roughly 4″.
Get a Free Inspection of Your Bowing Walls
Don’t lose sleep over your home’s bowing walls. Catching the problem early can save you money and headaches down the line. The team at Reliable Basement Services has more than a dozen years of experience. Our professionals will visit your home anywhere in the Chicagoland area and give you a free inspection of your home’s bowing walls. We’ll determine the best course of action for repair and provide you with a free estimate before we perform our complete, warrantied repairs. Contact us today to find out more or schedule your free inspection.