Foundation Repair

Foundation Repair

Dear Readers, the time to take care of potential foundation problems is when you are building. No one cares more about your house than you do, and as an owner/builder, remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Proper footing preparation, foundation waterproofing, footing drains, final grading and water run off drainage do not require a degree in physics, just good common sense. Hire well referred people!

"Hello, I have an old house; one wall is cracked but stands straight. One wall is badly cracked leaning inwards (about 6 inches) with no water leaks... What are some options to remedy this situation?

I've heard some guys put up pressure treated 3/4 plywood fasten it to the wall and then build a 2 x 6 walls to help with the load?

Please help.

Thanks, Bruce"

Hi Bruce,

Since I can’t see the damage you have described, I think you should consult with a structural engineer (not someone who works for a foundation repair company) for expert advice. They are in the phone book and online under “structural engineers.

My personal opinion is that in order to do any foundation repair correctly, the source of the problem needs to be eliminated.

Vertical foundation walls are not designed to take enormous horizontal pressure.

Since it is the enormous pressure of soil pushing the wall (s), that pressure needs to be eliminated 1st before repairing the wall.

If the strength of the concrete or masonry block wall couldn’t stop the force of Mother Nature, it is doubtful that anything else will, at least not for long.

To do it right, excavate outside the wall down to the footing, repair wall, repair footing drains, waterproof, backfill carefully with stable dirt, tamping the dirt as the excavation hole is filled, grade away from house, replace the shrubs and anything else that had to be removed (I’ve even had to remove sections of concrete driveways, tear off decks, etc.) and then you can sleep well at night.

If you are handy, you could do some of the work yourself, subcontracting backhoe work and anything you can’t handle yourself.

Then, keep the grading around the foundation sloping away from the house.
The soil around the house will settle with time and additional topsoil will be needed.

That said, here are other methods available, the first one very similar to your idea.
Your idea using steel from Profoundationtech.com: