Foundation Repair Before & After Photos

This home had some very severe cracks in the basement and cracking could be seen outside the house as well. We were called for a solution as the house was a rental proprty and they wanted the home to be safe. We installed the PowerBrace Wall Repair System to stabilize the wall. The system consists of steel beams that are secured to the joists above the wall with steel brackets. The PowerBraces allow for tightening to attempt to raise the wall back to its original position. This system doesn't involve any exterior excavation, installs quickly, and has minimal disruption to the basement.

This was a classic foundation problem with a slight twist. One of the basement walls in this Lansing, MI rental homes was crumbling inward. The homeowner had installed a retaining wooden wall a few feet in front of the original to hold back dirt and other debris, but now, that wall was tilting inward as well. After a visit from a house inspector ended with a red tag, the homeowner knew he had to something about the wall.

Our PowerBrace system has been used to fix all types of different retaining walls and bowing foundations, so the crew was confident the system would get the job done here as well. The Powerbrace beams were installed the same way they always are, with the top of the beam being bracketed to the floor joists in the ceiling and the bottom of the beam securely installed into the foundation. The big difference between this and a typical PowerBrace installation was that the beams are usually in contact with the collapsing wall from top to bottom.  Since the wooden wall was only half the height of the basement, that wasn’t a possibility this time around. Like with every other PowerBrace system, these beams’ tightness can be adjusted after installation, so the retaining wall will continue to stand strong even as time passes. While PowerBrace is a permanent solution for this retaining wooden wall, Ayers offers a variety of systems that could have prevented the original stone wall from failing. If you’re at all worried about your own foundation, then be sure to give us a call before it’s too late.

This customer gave us a call after noticing a change in her basement walls. Large horizontal cracks, like the one seen in this before picture, are one of the key signs that a wall is starting to bow inwards due to outside soil pressure. There are several possible approaches for correcting bowing walls. In this particular case, we used our PowerBrace system.

The after photo shows one of the nine different steel beams and brackets used in that system. As you can see, the tops of the beams were attached to the floor joists in the ceiling with a special tightening bracket. The long bolt is what makes adjusting and tightening the system possible.  As the beams were installed, any pressure that was being applied to the foundation walls was shifted over to the PowerBrace system, allowing the wall to straighten back to its original position over time.

Because your basement walls are essential to your homes integrity, we urge you to call us as soon as you notice a buckling, bowing or collapsing wall like this. To find out more about the common signs of a failing foundation wall, click here. 

The foundation walls in this Lansing, MI house were settling likely from the soil it was built on. We were able to install Helical Piers to help bring the home back to its original position. Once we find the proper depth to where good soil is we install heavy-duty steel foundation brackets below the footing. The weight of the home is then transferred through the piers to the sturdy soil to bring the home back to where it should be. 

A homeowner from Lansing contacted us referring to her basement that had a weak foundation wall. She did not know how to fix it, so she called us. We drove to her home and installed Wall Anchors. We install these by digging a tiny hole in that are a few feet away from the home. Then we drill a steel rod through a 1-inch hole in the basement wall. After that, the rod connects to an anchor that is placed in the hole of the soil. Once we place the plates on afterward, we have permanently stabilized the basement. So now the homeowner doesn't have to worry about an unsafe basement ever again.