Foundation Wall and Footer Structural Enhancements
There are many enhancements that can be used to repair a foundation wall. In no way is this a complete list of all types of foundation repair as new technology is being developed and used by foundation repair contractors all the time. This is just a general list to help you understand some of the solutions available to repair or support a foundation.
Steel Wall Braces
For many years foundation repair contractors have supported bowed walls using steel wall braces like I-Beams, C-Channel, stamp formed or plate steel installed vertically.
These applications require the installer to bolt these steel beams as described in the following situations:
a) Bolted mid-wall at bulge approximately half as long as wall height
b) Bolted into wall—top to floor
c) Bolted into sill plate/joist and wall and concreted into slab
d) Hybrid of b and c
e) Bolted to earth anchors through wall
f) Braced using steel or timbers bolted to floor perpendicular to wall using a 45-degree brace reaching to top of wall
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber wall enhancements are affixed with epoxy directly to a wall in vertical, horizontal or crisscrossed strips. Carbon fiber has been used for year to repair concrete structures and more recently in the residential foundation market.
Concrete Poured Wall Crack Injections
Crack repair is accomplished by using epoxies to help strengthen cracked areas. These epoxies can be injected into the wall by either using high or low pressure injection. Urethanes can also be used to help seal cracks against water intrusion. There are many types of epoxies and urethanes available to foundation repair contractors today. Basement repair contractors usually provide crack injection services.
Earth Anchors
Earth wall anchors are used to brace walls:
a) Helicals torqued into earth
b) Power driven anchors—load locked/load proofed
c) Dead men concrete block anchors for limited space applications
Grout Filling
Grout filling and steel re-bar hollow core block walls to help strengthen. The foundation repair contractor will drill into the hollow cells of a concrete block wall. He will then install steel re-bar into the hollow block and then proceed to fill those cells with a grout.
Pilings or Piers
Pilings or piers help resist settling:
a) Drilled and poured straight-shaft or bell-bottomed steel reinforced piers
b) Pushed or pressed steel pipe pilings
c) Pushed or pressed concrete segment pilings
d) Helical pilings/piers torqued into the earth
e) Hybrid steel and concrete segmented pressed pilings
Counter-fortes or Pilasters
These are made with steel and poured concrete installed from interior or exterior to help resist wall and/or footer in or out movement during seasonal weather changes.
