Bowing Wall Repair

Serving South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska

A bowing wall is a common problem in South Dakota. When rain and melting snow soak into the soil, added pressure can build up on your foundation walls, causing them to crack, lean, or bow. Poor drainage, poor waterproofing, and uncontrolled water can worsen the problem.

Due to the possibility of collapse, bowing walls are a hazard to your home and should be repaired by professionals. We have multiple solutions that will help you fix the problem at hand.

Signs To Watch For With Bowing Walls

Walls usually don’t go from perfectly straight to tilting at a 20 degree angle, and catching the problem before the bowing becomes extreme will expand the number of repair options available to you.

Perhaps the biggest thing to watch out for are horizontal cracks in your basement walls, including cracks that run in the mortar joints along the length of a block wall. These cracks are often the first sign that the walls are beginning to bow.

From there you can do tests like dropping a plumb line to determine if any bowing is present. Any amount of bowing is bad news and likely to get worse over time. That is why it is important to get the repairs made before the wall’s condition is bad enough it must be replaced.

If you have noticed horizontal cracking in your basement walls, contact Rapid Foundation Repair today for more information on how to keep your home safe.

Bowing Wall Repair Options

Rapid Foundation Repair offers carbon fiber, wall anchors, and helical wall tiebacks/anchors to provide the best possible foundation repair services for your bowing wall repair.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is arguably the least invasive way to stabilize a bowing basement wall. No excavations are needed and the entire repair takes place within your basement. Carbon fiber straps are simply run from the top to the bottom of the wall. Carbon fiber has a greater tensile strength per weight ratio than steel so once the straps are properly installed, the wall will be stabilized and no further bowing will take place. This will also allow any cracks caused by the bowing to be sealed without worrying that they will immediately open up again. Carbon fiber repairs are also the easiest wall repair to hide as carbon fiber can be painted or drywalled over.

Wall Anchors

Wall anchors are another solution to help with your bowing wall repair. A wall anchor is a plate that is fastened to your basement wall with a rod going through the wall and into the soil around your foundation. This rod is connected to another plate inserted into the ground about 10 feet from the basement wall. The monthly tightening of the anchor can slowly pull your bowing wall back into its original position.

Helical Tiebacks

Helical wall tiebacks and anchors are another type of anchor that is installed very much like wall anchors. They go through your wall and into the soil to give your wall extra structural support. This process relieves the pressure, and the anchor straightens out the bowing wall.

Rapid Foundation Repair will help you make the right choice for your unique situation. Our quality Earth Contact Products (ECP) tools, installed only by trained professionals, will ensure the safety of your family and the integrity of your foundation. Call us today for all your bowing wall repair needs.