Bowing Basement Wall Repair Services in NC & SC
Serving Charlotte, Asheville, Greenville-Spartanburg, Greensboro, Raleigh & Wilmington
If you see cracks within your basement walls or if your basement walls are bowing or leaning, please contact us for a free evaluation. These issues are often indicators of structural issues and require the services of a foundation repair specialist.
How We Repair Bowing or Cracking Basement Walls
The best way to repair a basement wall that is bowed or cracked depends on the materials used to construct the walls, the height of the walls, the height of the back-filled soils, and the extent of the movement or damage.
The most common and most effective methods of repairing bowing basement walls in the Carolinas are installing carbon fiber reinforcement straps and/or installing helical tieback anchors (wall anchors).
Carbon Fiber Reinforcement To Fix Bowing Basement Walls
The installation of carbon fiber reinforcement straps is a common and effective method of repairing basement walls in the Carolinas that are bowing inward due to lateral forces. The carbon fiber reinforcement straps are applied directly to the face of the wall and provide reinforcement and stabilization.
Carolina Foundation Solutions specializes in the installation of Fortress Stabilization Systems carbon fiber reinforcement material. The Fortress Stabilization Systems product consists of a woven grid of carbon fiber and Kevlar that is corrosion proof and more rigid than steel.
Benefits of installing carbon fiber reinforcement include:
- Quick repairs with immediate results
- A cost-effective solution and provides immediate results
- Won’t interfere with future installation of wood framed walls, wall paneling, waterproofing systems, etc.
We provide a 10-year warranty for the repairs consisting of the carbon fiber reinforcement systems, but an additional warranty is offered by the manufacturer, Fortress Stabilization Systems.
Helical Tieback Anchors To Fix Bowing Basement Walls
Another effective technique for basement wall repairs in the Carolinas is tieback anchors, which “anchor” a wall that leaning or bowing.
Carolina Foundation Solutions specializes in the installation of CHANCE helical tieback anchors, as well as other soil screw and wall anchor systems. We are a certified CHANCE Installer and use only the best materials in the foundation repair industry. The helical anchors manufactured by CHANCE are ICC-ES certified and made in the U.S.
In addition to the “Life of Structure Warranty” offered by Carolina Foundation Solutions, the helical anchors are also covered by a “30 Year Peace of Mind Warranty” by CHANCE.
Carolina Foundation Solutions offers basement wall repair services in Charlotte, Greenville-Spartanburg, Asheville, Greensboro, and Wilmington. Call us at (877) 770-7050 to schedule an inspection.
What Causes Bowing Basement Walls?
Here in the Carolinas, soil pressure due to expansive clay soil against the foundation is among the most common causes of bowing basement walls. The most common material used to build basement walls in the Carolinas is concrete masonry units (often referred as CMU or concrete block). Concrete block is popular with builders because they can build a foundation quickly and finish home construction faster than they can with poured concrete. However, this type of wall is exceptionally vulnerable to the lateral pressure that causes bowing walls.
Changes in the conditions of the back-filled soils on the outside of a basement wall are often the root cause of basement wall damage. The changes within the back-filled soils are commonly a result of poor drainage conditions along the areas surrounding a house. As moisture and water content builds up in the back-filled soils, they become heavier and exert excessive pressure on to the walls (often referred to as hydrostatic pressure). Over time, this lateral pressure on the basement walls will cause them to change shape and bow inward.
Common signs of the walls bowing inward are the formation of cracks within the wall materials. The cracks can be found in various areas of a wall and can span in different directions. Cracks that run horizontally through the center of the walls are a common sign of lateral movement that may indicate foundation problems.
