How to Repair Bowed Basement Walls

If you periodically inspect your basement, you could usually spot foundation wall bowers quickly. Water leaks caused by tree roots pushing from the outside are the most common sign of bowed walls.

Most of the time, cracks between the basement walls are caused by the joints following each other. The cracks follow a diagonal path for poured concrete walls starting from the corners going into the center In any case, when combined with the outside loads, the walls tend to tilt inward.

If left alone, these issues could get worse over time. They could bring down your house’s real estate value in a matter of minutes, which is expensive and takes a long time to resolve. Cracks are one of the leading causes of basement water damage, and a bowed foundation wall could pose a serious problem.

There are three ways to fix bowed walls.

Methods For Repairing Bowed Walls

The method for repairing bowed walls depends on the extent of the wall. To avoid this issue, you need to take action as soon as possible.

You need to know that repairing bowed walls doesn’t always mean it’s back to its original position. The purpose is to make sure the wall is stable.

Carbon fiber straps and staplers are one of the most widely used methods for repairing bowed basement walls.

Carbon Fiber Straps And Staples

Carbon fiber straps or staplers are the simplest way to reinforce bowed walls. When the damage is less than two inches, they’re a good choice. The cheapest and fastest remedy is this method. It is less labor-intensive because there is no excavation.

When cracks appear along your foundation walls, it’s best to use straps or staplers. These materials are made with high strength carbon fibers.

To get the best results, carbon fiber straps need to be connected to the basement wall. The stress on the center of the wall is distributed evenly from top to bottom.

Wall Anchors

Steel wall anchors can be used to secure your basement wall if it gets too big. The method requires more labor and time to install than carbon fiber straps, as you or contractors need to work both inside and outside of the basement.

It takes at least 10 feet outside the affected basement wall to install wall anchors. There should be enough space for the steel plates to be placed into the ground. porches, decks, sidewalks, and other structures are impacted by the digging.

There is a steel plate buried in the ground that is connected to a steel shaft that is in the basement wall. The inside anchor is pulled along with the wall towards the outer plate by a tight rod.

The contractors recommend that the anchor be placed 5 feet from each other.

Helical Tiebacks

If you don’t have enough room in your basement to install anchors, you could use helical tiebacks bowing walls. The method is used for basement walls with more than two inches of bow. The most expensive of the three systems are the tiebacks.

The screw-like steel shaft was to be drilled from the basement wall into the earth. The shaft runs upward near the top of the steel channel. The wall can be restored without the need to dig.

As soon as you see signs of a bowed wall, you should act and address the issue before it becomes more serious. If you can see cracks or leaks, you might be able to figure out what’s going on. When repairing issues that involve non-household tools and materials, you can always consult an experienced professional.