Bowing Walls
GSI Foundations = Experts At Repairing Bowing Walls
When people look at their basement, they either see cracks or they see their walls bowing. In addition to cracks in the foundation, a sure sign that you need to contact GSI Foundations is if it appears the walls in your basement are bowing.
Southeast Wisconsin’s Trusted Choice
GSI Foundations Fixes Bowing Walls
Bowing walls occur when there is significant water pressure, over time, against the foundation of the home. If your home’s foundation is solid and secure, water seepage should be minimal, if not non-existent. However, if there is improper drainage or insufficient external or internal waterproofing, water can build up and cause pressure against the walls of the foundation. Ultimately, this can cause cracks and leaks, and may cause the walls to bend or bow. This compromises the stability of the foundation of your home and can be quite costly if it is not repaired as early as possible.
There Are Two Ways To Fix Bowing Walls
Bracing
In this solution, much like a broken bone that needs to be supported, we install basement braces to stabilize the bowing. The goal is to restore the integrity of the walls, and to also prevent future bowing issues.
Excavation With Bracing
Sometimes excavation is required on the outside of the home. In this process, walls are straightened and braced in order to correct and restabilize them. During the excavation process, the exterior foundation walls are waterproofed, and exterior drain tile is installed to prevent water penetration; which reduces further structural movement.
This is ALL our area of expertise! For more than two decades, we’ve helped homeowners, home buyers, Realtors, and investors safeguard their investment and restore the integrity of the structure of their homes.
Call our team today to schedule an assessment to determine which solution is best for you! We are the trusted experts among homeowners, home buyers, Realtors, and investors alike – because this is what we do best. Our team members are experts in the industry, and we’re so grateful to have helped person after person repair bowing walls to preserve and protect the investment they’ve made in their home over the last two decades. We can do the same for you, and are hopeful for the privilege to be of service!
Your Trusted Choice For Basement Waterproofing
Waterproofing your basement will help protect your home against further damage and costly repairs. Call GSI Foundations today if you have noticed any of these warning indicators of water in your basement.
Water (or dried up water marks) in the basement in areas where the walls meet the floor can cause your walls to bow and is a clear indicator of the need for basement waterproofing
Various interior or exterior cracks
Musty smells
Mold or mildew
What Causes Bowing Walls?
Your home was built to withstand the pressure coming from the soil and rock surrounding your foundation and your basement walls. But when that pressure becomes too intense, it puts unnecessary strain on the walls; which may cause them to crack, leak, or bow.
In the Midwest, we’re used to freezing temperatures a good number of months out of the year. And we know how freezing temperatures and fluctuating temperatures can wreak havoc on our roadways and sidewalks. The same thing can happen to your home’s foundation and basement walls. Essentially, when the ground freezes, the soil expands and can cause pressure against the foundation and basement walls. Year after year of freezing and thawing can cause the walls to weaken – and either crack or bow. Temperature changes are another factor that can contribute to bowing walls.
Hydrostatic pressure – which is the force created and exerted by standing or resting water in a confined space – can also contribute to bowing walls. Consider the space between the ground and your basement walls. If you live near water sources such as lakes, rivers, streams, or if your home is susceptible to flooding when there is significant rain, all of this water can build up and affect your basement walls.
Another factor is the presence of water in the basement. No homeowner wants to deal with a damp or wet basement, which is why GSI provides the best
basement waterproofing solutions available. If you have water in your basement and want to learn more about our basement waterproofing solutions, call us today.
Our Tips For Keeping Your Basement In Top Shape!
New construction? Older home? Doesn’t matter. Ensuring your home is properly graded will keep rainfall and other debris from collecting and placing unnecessary pressure on exterior walls, which can lead to
cracks in the foundation and costly repairs.
Be mindful of tree roots, especially larger trees, which can grow and create underground pressure on your nearby foundation.
Ensure your gutters and any rain downspouts are cleaned and properly aimed to carry and distribute water far enough away from your home to not seep into the ground near your foundation.
If you’re thinking of selling your home, investing in repairs now will avoid costly repairs that may come up in a home inspection — something that buyers and investors will appreciate! And even if you aren’t planning to sell your home any time soon, making necessary repairs now will protect the investment you’ve made in your home, will help prolong the life of your home, will avoid issues from worsening and becoming more expensive, and will help ensure you can continue enjoying your home, stress-free, for years to come.
