The soil around your home’s basement can put tremendous pressure on the structure’s walls. The extent of the pressure they exert is dependent on four main factors: 1) type of soil, 2) amount of moisture present in the soil, 3) how far beneath ground level the foundation sits, and 4) weather and climate conditions.
As it is, there is always pressure put on your foundation walls from the exterior. Yet, the only thing holding up a basement wall is the wall itself. Expanding and contracting clay soil, hydrostatic pressure, and cold frost can apply more than enough pressure to cause walls to lean or possibly collapse.
Poorly installed or damaged gutters and downspouts can also lead to major foundation issues by allowing vast amounts of water to accumulate in soils around the home. If runoff from the roof is not pushed away from a foundation, the soil will grow heavier and more expansive as it is saturated with moisture.
Signs of failing basement walls
- Horizontal or stair-step cracking
- Inward bowing or bulging
- Diagonal cracking at corners of poured concrete
- Walls sliding inward on the bottom or leaning at the top
- Wet, clay soil around the home accompanied by damaged walls
- Expansive soils around the basement
Long-lasting solutions for damages
We seldom recommend a total foundation replacement or the tear down and rebuild of an entire wall. Most problems with basement instability can be repaired through much simpler and cost-effective methods.
In the case of buckling walls, anchors and braces are installed along the bowing walls. The system’s clamping pressure helps to stabilize, strengthen and restore the basement wall.
Our proven solutions are warrantied, and most repairs can be completed in a day. We also provide fixes for cracks, house leveling, basement waterproofing, and more.
