Bowed | Leaning Foundation Walls – Repair | Replace
American Foundation Repair, repairs bowing and leaning foundation walls. These bowed walls are typically cinder block or (CMU's) concrete masonry unit foundation walls. Many low-grade level homes can experience a bowing foundation problem. Signs of a bowed foundation wall may include a horizontal crack across your foundation wall. Diagonal cracks on the corners may indicate a leaning foundation wall.
Many of these signs could be overlooked, especially in a finished basement. Homeowners may be living with a potentially bowed wall and not even know it! The main cause of a bowing foundation is the grade (ground) level pitching toward the home instead of away from the home. Other factors could be unsatisfactory gutters (clogged, damaged etc.) preventing the flow of water from going into the downspouts and instead letting it flow next to the foundation creating unwanted lateral pressure. The excessive lateral pressure pressing against the foundation wall will cause the wall to bow inward. Block walls are not meant to prevent excessive outside wall pressure and therefore your home will begin to bow inward, causing a structural stress failure to your foundation wall.
Even with proper working gutters, you may still have a problem with your foundation wall bowing if the grade level is pitching toward your home. When it rains, water tends to naturally flow from the highest point to the lowest spot. Unfortunately, some homes are sitting in some very low spot, almost bowl like spots.
Excessive soil pressure is one of the main factors causing a wall to bow or lean inward. The outside pressure from the soil against the foundation wall will eventually lead to misalignment and cause the foundation wall to bow or lean. This does not happen overnight! It takes years for walls to start showing signs of structural failure. Once the signs are evident it is too late to take preventative measures, and now the problem must be structurally repaired.
A leaning wall will occur when the floor framing is not properly secured to the foundation wall. Experiencing this problem you will notice a diagonal cracks on the foundation wall indicating inward pressure movement. Not addressing this issue will cause significant damage to your home, have an expert come out and evaluate the situation, we’ll provide you with the best solution to your foundation problem. Epoxy crack injection in most cases is NOT an adequate repair, but a “quick fix – band-aid” to a more extensive foundation problem. Make sure to have one of our experts evaluate your problem for a proper permanent foundation repair solution.
A driveway directly next to your home may also cause your foundation to bow because of continuous lateral pressure from the outside including extra weight from the cars and trucks parked outside.
Solution | Repair Bowing | Leaning Foundation Wall
One of the best options to stabilize a bowing foundation wall is to place a concrete retaining wall adjacent to the existing bowing wall. This foundation repair method will secure your wall from bowing inward. The gunite method (high pressure concrete mixture sprayed onto rebar) is engineered to keep your home from any further bowing. Stopping the foundation wall completely from bowing inward. Most companies will not or can not offer you this method, since it requires specialized trained technicians and cumulative years of foundation repair team experience. American Foundation is the most experienced trained team in the Chicagoland area to solve your foundation problem.
A cut of approximately 18″ away from existing foundation wall is made for new interior drain tile system. A waterproofing barrier is placed at entire work area. Rebar is endowed into existing footing. Rebar is placed horizontally and vertically along entire damaged work area. We gunite the wall and trowel for a smooth finish. Replacement of your concrete floor is performed, leaving your basement looking like new. Your home is secure from any further bowing or seepage, all of our work is done accordingly to engineered specifications. Meet with one our professional experienced foundation repair team members for a free evaluation.
Permit and Engineering Drawings
All repairs are done accordingly to engineered specifications and municipality codes. Village department inspectors come and inspect our work, on-site from your local village or town. All work confirms to ASTM standards (American Society for Testing and Materials) and certified for BOCA National Building Code. These types of complex jobs can only be done by a foundation team with experience and knowledge. Meet with one of our professional team members for a free evaluation on home.
Homeowners Book Now For A Free Estimate
Schedule your free inspection today with an honest and friendly foundation repair expert consultant. Being a family owned and operated business means we are the best qualified consultants in all of Chicagoland area. Get a professional assessment of your problem and NEVER cross-sales or up sales. Receive a complimentary written proposal provided on-site or delivered in a timely manner by email. All of our proposals come with a 60 day price guarantee and a transferable warranty bringing peace of mind to you and your family. No gimmicks just great service and an expert evaluation from American Foundation Repair. A family owned and operated company since 1986.