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.
Symptoms of a Bowing | Leaning Foundation Wall
- Diagonal cracks on ends of foundation wall – Floor joist not nailed to sill plate (wood sitting on top of foundation)
- Split sill plate – Improper anchor bolt installation
- Pocketed I-Beam going through foundation wall (From outside you can see a bulge at I-Beam end)
- Horizontal crack on cinder block wall – Excessive lateral soil pressure due to extreme saturated ground
Solution | New Foundation Wall – Shoring Frame in Position
In rare cases, where the foundation wall is severely damaged has to be removed and replaced. This involves shoring the entire home temporarily and removing and replacing foundation wall or walls, but keeping the existing footing. If no footing is present a new footing will need to be poured.
The new foundation wall will be reinforced with new steel post and they will get encased in concrete. Place rebar horizontally and vertically along the entire new foundation wall. A new exterior drain tile system along the perimeter where work is being performed will be placed and will be connected to existing pit or drain tile system. A new pit will be installed to tie new drain tile system.
The concrete will be a gunite (spraying concrete mix at high pressure). This gunite method is only used by specialized companies, who have the expertise and knowledge in the foundation repair business. Most of our competitors can NOT offer you this option since they do not have the expertise or tools to complete a complex project such as foundation wall repair. Make sure to have one of our experts to evaluate your home for the best solution to your foundation problems.
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 the 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.