Foundation wall repair
Foundation wall repair
(OP)
Can anyone suggest a method to repair a foundation wall with a horizontal crack, approximately mid way down the wall, about 1/8-1/4" thick?
The wall is about 8 feet high in a 30 year old house.
I think the owner should excavate the soil around the house, remove and replace the wall, install new weeping tile to remove any potential hydrostatic pressure and waterproof the wall.
All of this sounds expensive, but adding deadman or columns inside the basement adjacent to the wall seem like band-aids.
Thank you.
The wall is about 8 feet high in a 30 year old house.
I think the owner should excavate the soil around the house, remove and replace the wall, install new weeping tile to remove any potential hydrostatic pressure and waterproof the wall.
All of this sounds expensive, but adding deadman or columns inside the basement adjacent to the wall seem like band-aids.
Thank you.





RE: Foundation wall repair
Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that them like it
RE: Foundation wall repair
Do you have pics?
RE: Foundation wall repair
At least get some opinions.
Short of replacing the wall - the most expensive avenue - the others do often look like bad-aids but are much cheaper and do work if installed correctly.
RE: Foundation wall repair
You did not give enough information for us to know how to address your problem. Is the wall concrete, block or stone? Is the cracked wall on the north side of the house? Does the lot slope and drain toward the cracked wall? Are the downspouts and gutters properly functioning? In addition to fixing the wall, you need to first eliminate the cause of the problem.
Look for a web site for Ram Jack @ http://www.ramjack.com/
Ram Jack and similar companies frequently fix basement walls.
www.PeirceEngineering.com
RE: Foundation wall repair
RE: Foundation wall repair
RE: Foundation wall repair
Alternatively, you could go with composite FRP (fiber reinforced polymers) on the inside surface.
If either of these solution ends up being appropriate, then I would think they would be cheaper (and less intrusive) than excavating and such.
RE: Foundation wall repair
Common repair is steel angle bolted to inside face of foundation wall with wood plate between joists and steel angle. Attach joists to plate ans steel angle as needed to create needed bracing.
Similar bracing can be done with a FRP/kevlar strap and "bow tie" connection from foundation to rim board. ht
Jim Houlette PE
Web: www.evstudio.us
Online Magazine: www.evstudio.info
RE: Foundation wall repair
Until you know the reason for the crack, you can't effect and appropriate repair....if you don't solve the issue, it will likely return.
More info please.....
Type of wall (masonry or cast in place). Reinforcing? Length of crack. Location along length of wall. Lateral faulting? Same width on inside as outside? Staining at crack and color of the stain. Proximity of trees to wall. Soil type around and under wall. Other distress in the structure? Frost depth?