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
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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Serving Baltimore and the Surrounding Area
Accuratebuildersofchpk1@gmail.com
Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake provide foundation, basement, and crawlspace installation and repair for the greater Baltimore area homeowners.
