Basement Wall Repair Methods

Steel

• Lateral pressure from outside can cause foundation walls to bend or bow. A severe bow can indicate imminent structural failure. The standard method for repairing bowed walls places steel beams every four or five feet on the affected wall to keep it stabilized. A contractor might either anchor the beams to the basement floor or cut through the floor and anchor the beams to the footings, the long 8- to 10-inch-wide concrete slabs that support the foundation walls.

Carbon Fiber

• Another, more recent method for repairing bowed walls involves using carbon fiber, a material with considerable tensile strength, which is the ability to resist being pulled apart. Carbon fiber straps placed along the affected wall prevent the interior portion of the wall from stretching as a result of pressure from the outside. The straps are more costly than steel beams, but since they require less labor to install, the price for the homeowner remains about the same.

Cracks

• Cracks caused by settling or leaking water can often be repaired by filling the crack with hydraulic cement, a cement that expands as it dries. This distinguishes it from Portland cement, which shrinks as it dries, allowing leaks in some cases. Chipping away all the loose material around the crack gives you a solid base on which to place cement. Packing the cement in tightly with a putty knife will stop most leaks.

Drainpipe

• Leaks can easily occur at the spot where a drainpipe goes through a basement wall as it enters the home. Aging mortar may become porous and allow moisture into the basement. To repair, break off the mortar surrounding the pipe with a chisel and then fill in the hole where the pipe runs to the outside with the mortar pieces. Add hydraulic cement to the filler. You must use hydraulic cement within two or three minutes of mixing, as it sets quickly.