A Basement Wall Repair is very important to the quality of living in your home. When basement walls are cracking or bowing outward at the edges, this is a sign of problems that will soon arise. If not attended to quickly, the problem can worsen and cause many more problems. There are several different types of basement wall problems and fixes that need to be done. There are many more basements that have these problems than you may realize. Here are some of the most common ones and the reasons they are problematic.
Waterproofing Basement Wall Repairs – Any time there is a crack or water seepage in a basement wall, it is recommended that the homeowner considers waterproofing the area. Some homeowners do not consider waterproofing their homes until there is major damage done to the home. The most common reason for waterproofing is to prevent water and other liquids from penetrating the interior of the home. Other waterproofing repairs include fixing areas where the water has fallen on the ground, waterproofing the area between floors and ceilings, and repairing areas that have drainage issues. Many of these repairs are inexpensive and do not require a special skill. However, if a serious issue with water penetration or leakage does occur, a professional should be contacted.
Pressure Basement Wall Repair – If your basement walls have been under tremendous pressure for an extended period of time, they can crack or cave in and cause leaks. Most often, pressure issues are due to soil moving toward the building and then settling after the pressure has subsided. This causes cracks in the walls, but sometimes the soil will bulge through the cracks and into the home. Regardless of the cause, basement wall repair is required. It is important to know when basement wall repair is needed because the cost and hazard of flooding can be greatly reduced with preventative maintenance.
Leakage and Waterproofing – The most common reasons that basement wall repair is necessary is because of leaks or water damage. Often, leaks occur when soil is moved or packed too thickly, resulting in a pressure point. The pressure can build very fast and move very fast. When the pressure is released, the soil will bulge through small cracks and leaks may form. If this happens, then no matter how much work is done to repair the leak, it may still result in mold damage. Waterproofing can help to significantly reduce the amount of moisture that moves into the home and also helps to seal off the area from moisture.
Bent Carbon Fiber Straps – If your Basement wall repair measures include removing concrete slabs, then you may find that one of your Basement wall repairs includes removing carbon fiber straps. Unfortunately, this is a very expensive type of Basement wall repair and must be done professionally. The best way to avoid bent carbon fiber straps is to make sure that all slabs are properly cleared before they are even cut away from the walls. Also make sure that you never allow concrete to dry completely between cuts.
Severe Bowing Basement Walls – If the damage to your basement wall repair measures includes severe bowing, then you may have to remove the carbon fiber strapping entirely. In fact, this is the only way to repair severe bowing basement walls. This is because the strapping supports the entire weight of the house and if there is any distortion, then it can cause your house to settle unevenly. Foundation walls are also held up by these straps. If your house is leaning at a certain angle, then this is another reason for removing the straps completely.
Epoxy Basement Wall Repair – Some homeowners choose to use epoxy basement wall repair as a means to fix their cracked foundation walls. Epoxies are applied to the wall with a special kit. There are two types of Epoxy: penetrating and non-penetrating. Penetrating Epoxy is a stronger version of the regular kind of Epoxy. Basically epoxies would penetrate through any sort of crack or dent in the wall and make holes in the wall behind them.
Non-penetrating Epoxy is a weaker version of the penetrating variety. These do not go through any cracks or dents in the walls. Usually non-penetration Epoxy is used for temporary fixes that can be cleared after some time to give the walls a chance to settle and get back into shape.