Foundation walls are designed to withstand the weight of a house and its contents, but they also must be able to handle the pressure of soil pushing in laterally. These structural problems with foundation walls can lead to devastating damage to a home, even wall collapse.
Cracks in the corners of a foundation or horizontal or stair-step cracks (cracking along the mortar in a cinder block wall) mean a homeowner should seek professional help. Even without cracking, walls may bow inward due to exterior pressure from the surrounding soil. Damage to foundation walls result from several things, including:
Changes in moisture
Changes in temperature due to changing seasons
Heavy front porch or sidewalk putting pressure on the home.
Fortunately, there are several ways to remedy the problem with foundation wall anchors and structural support (depending on the severity) so that a family can feel safe and comfortable in their Baltimore home.
A Richtech stabilizer beam is put into place when a minor bend is 2” or less. The beam is a pre-engineered, permanent solution that will restore the structural integrity of a foundation in no time. Using steel beams, we can also repair bowed, sheared, and tipped walls.
At Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake, we want to use the best solution while never sacrificing quality, which is why we use the cost-effective, quick-to-install Richtech stabilizer beam.
We use brackets on the affected wall’s top and bottom to install the beam. We drill into the concrete to finish installing the beam vertically, using concrete anchors at the base. The beam and supporting wood planks installed above the beam brackets stabilize the wall to its original functionality, protecting against future damage.
Since most people aren’t foundation repair experts, this may seem daunting. However, the professionals at Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake can work with the homeowner to determine whether a home needs a Richtech stabilizer beam or if another fix will work better.
Carbon fiber is another option for foundation repair, usually for minor damage. It is a solid material woven into strips that are epoxied onto the wall. They’re virtually indestructible and won’t stretch or break. Once completed, the repair is permanent and requires no further maintenance, aside from painting it if a homeowner chooses to make it blend in. Additionally, this repair option is relatively inexpensive.
Also known as tie-backs, these systems are used when there is more severe damage, such as a wall shifting back more than a couple of inches or when bowing is more pronounced. To install the system, anchors are inserted deep into the soil to relieve the pressure and disperse the load. Once done, the foundation walls can be realigned.
Other methods for structural repair include:
Steel posts
Block or concrete piers
Reinforcing bars
Tyler Hobbs2024-10-09 We contacted Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake for a moderate sized crack that was forming on our basement foundation wall as well as some clear signs of moisture issues (peeling cinderblock paint) and an extremely outdated stairwell drain. Mike came out and gave us a very clear and honest assessment. After three additional quotes and some scare tactics from other companies, we felt the most comfortable moving forward with ABC. They came out one more time to run through the project and modify the quote before starting work. As for the actual work, Mike, Brittany and their team were fantastic to work with from start to finish. They were very responsive, communicative, timely, and professional. They offered a fair price and their assessment of our issue felt truly honest. Our quirky old house threw them some curve balls but Mike and his team finished the work promptly and efficiently. When we had a question, Mike did not hesitate to come back out to take a look at something the next day with no questions asked. Overall, this is a local family run business that clearly prides itself in their honesty and integrity. From our family to yours, we would highly recommend ABC to anyone with waterproofing needs. Your house would be in great hands. We will not hesitate to contact them in the future if any other issues arise. Thank you, ABC. Derric Schaefer2024-10-03 Great work and great price! Would highly recommend using them Antonio Womack2024-10-01 Michael had done several jobs for me I’m a landlord and each time he work has been stellar. And if you ever need him to come back….he there. A plus service Eileen K Orndorff2024-09-24 My husband Rick, (who has since passed away) called Mike's company because we were having water in the basement during the 2018 Ellicott city flood. This had never had happened before. Mike did a dig out through The Bathroom wall in the basement. Installed a sump pump and tubing to allow the water out of the home. Very satisfied with the results. Fast forward to today..i noticed some moisture in the small bathroom and on the wall. He came out to investigate.. turned out it was a lint ball in the tubing in the house. water was backed up which caused water on floor used a swiffer rod i had in The kitchen to fix the issue. He didnt want payment from since itcwas a simple fix. I would Definitely recommend him to anybody. His customer Service is top notch very happy Eileen Marie Daloia2024-09-12 I am so relieved and happy that I discovered Michael and his amazing team. They are incredibly professional and considerate, and continually explained to me during the work process what was happening and what needed to be done. Michael's work (and that of his team) is of exceptional quality and he takes huge pride in doing the job to absolute perfection. I really like that Michael is always on site and performs the work himself with his team. I am also extremely grateful for the fact that he acted so quickly due to the urgency of my situation. As a woman, I am also appreciative of the fact that he and his team treated me with respect because often contractors assume they can take the advantage. He was very honest with me upfront about what the problem was and what needed to be done without any pressure to add unnecessary things which would just push up the price. I will definitely be using Michael and his team again in the future. Thank you so much, Michael! ***** (5 STARS) SECOND REVIEW: I was so pleased with the first job Michael did for me, that I used his services again to do some exterior paving work on my patio porch. Michael provided me with a very fair estimate and came spot on time to complete the work to a very high standard. I really appreciate that he was extra careful around the house as I had just had some exterior painting completed. Michael is very professional and holds himself to very high standards. I will definitely be using his services in the future! Thank you again, Michael! Adam Mach2024-09-06 I recently had the pleasure of working with Accurate Builders for some much-needed foundation repair at my home. Specifically, they tackled a large crack in the foundation of my backyard patio, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the outcome. From start to finish, my experience with Accurate Builders was stellar. Mike, who was the point of contact for my project, demonstrated an exceptional level of attention to detail. It was evident from the initial consultation that he truly cares about his work and ensuring that his clients are satisfied. The repair was executed flawlessly, and the foundation now looks brand new—better than I could have imagined. What really stood out was the price. Accurate Builders provided a quote that was not only within my budget but also seemed like a great deal given the quality of work performed. The transparency and fairness of the pricing were much appreciated, and it was reassuring to know that I wasn’t paying more than necessary. In summary, Accurate Builders has exceeded my expectations in every way. The foundation repair was executed to perfection, the cost was reasonable, and Mike’s meticulous attention to detail ensured that I received top-notch service. I would not hesitate to recommend Accurate Builders to anyone in need of foundation repair or waterproofing services. My experience was a solid 5 out of 5, and I’m confident you’ll be just as satisfied with their work. Richard Crozier2024-09-06 Mike is a very hard worker. It's his company and he performs all of the work himself with a helper. They installed a drain and a sump pump in less than a day at a very fair price. Shawn Squire2024-08-07 I recently had the pleasure of dealing with with Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake for a waterproofing issue, and I am very impressed with their service. Mike was exceptionally prompt in showing up and diagnosing our problem. His motivation to help us was evident from the start, and his willingness to be competitive on price was greatly appreciated. Mike offered to price match or beat other quotes we had received, demonstrating his commitment to providing the best value. What stood out the most was Mike's transparency about what he could do. He didn't oversell his services but rather gave us clear and honest information, which is rare and valuable. Moreover, Mike was incredibly helpful in guiding us through our remaining quotes, advising us on the right questions to ask to ensure we got the best options for our needs. Ultimately, we decided to go with another solution that better addressed our specific problem. Mike's response to our decision was nothing short of professional; he understood our choice and agreed that it was the best course of action. His understanding and supportive attitude further highlighted his integrity and customer-first approach. Even though we didn't end up using Mike, I would highly recommend them based on the excellent experience we had. If you are looking for a reliable, transparent, and competitively priced waterproofing service, Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake is an excellent choice. Sarah Yates2024-05-21 We had a great experience from beginning to end. We needed waterproofing services after we noticed water in our basement after heavy rains. The owner, Mike, came out and gave us a thorough estimate of the work that needed to be done. The work took about 2 1/2 days. Mike was very communicative about the process and the progress which I really appreciated. Everyone was super polite! I have such a feeling of relief. I am actually looking forward to the rain LOL! I can’t thank Mike and his awesome team enough. I wanted to hire a local small business instead of a larger company because they are the ones that need a community’s support. I would not hesitate to hire him again. Thank you Mike! Kirk Nowlin2024-05-13 After 6 years of ongoing water issues and basement floodings. I finally had someone solved the problem. Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake was the third company to come out to try and fix the problem, but the only company that reached success in doing so . As you can see from my posted photos the flooding has been a horrific experience that my family and I had to deal with everytime it would rain. Thank you Mike, Brittany and your team at Accurate Buildings of the Chesapeake for your experience, dedication and the excellent work that you performed. KnSr
The Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake experts can determine which solution will work best for safely stabilizing foundation walls. Our experienced professionals will make sure everything is done correctly the first time. Contact us to schedule an inspection.
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Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake provide foundation, basement, and crawlspace installation and repair for the greater Baltimore area homeowners.