Your home’s foundation walls can move over time. When the soil outside your home becomes saturated with water, it begins to swell, causing pressure against those walls. If that pressure becomes too great, cracks can develop which allow the wall to move inward. Carbon Fiber Wall Reinforcement stabilizes the foundation wall and prevents further movement.
How does Carbon Fiber foundation wall repair work?
Carbon Fiber work can be used on poured concrete walls that have not incurred more than two inches of inward movement. It is done on the interior of your basement. First, cracks are filled with urethane injections and the surface of the wall is ground flat. Once a bonding agent is applied to the wall, the carbon fiber straps are soaked in epoxy and placed in strategic locations based on the pattern of the foundation cracks. The straps are usually installed about five feet apart, anchored at the bottom on the foundation’s footing (the widened concrete base your foundation walls rest on). A heavy-duty steel angle iron is attached to the top of the wall. The entire system is firmly secured — the top by the angle iron, the middle by the carbon fiber straps, the bottom by the footing and concrete floor — which prevents future inward movement of the wall.
With this type of repair, it’s important to manage the water outside your foundation. Moving water from downspouts or sump pump discharges away from your house should help you avoid the recurrence of oversaturation, which is a root cause of foundation wall movement.
Why should you choose U.S Waterproofing to reinforce your foundation walls with carbon fiber?
Because you shouldn’t take chances when it comes to keeping your house stable and secure. Carbon Fiber is one of the world’s toughest and most durable materials, having been used for years on bridges and airplanes. It won’t stretch or break. With shifted foundation walls sometimes leading to serious structural problems, you need the best solution possible. The strength of the Carbon Fiber reinforces the wall and prevents new wall cracks from forming in the treated areas along with preventing existing cracks from opening further.
Carbon Fiber Wall Reinforcement is quick and minimally disruptive, requires no maintenance, and results in a basement that can be finished with drywall, etc. An outstanding long term and transferrable warranty is included. If you think your foundation walls might be cracking or shifting, schedule your free consultation online today!