Foundation Repair Photo Album: Stabilizing a Bowing Wall in Gowen, MI

Our customer called with a major wall problem. There was a stairstep crack in the wall that was leaking water every time it rained, and the wall itself was majorly bowing. They knew it was important to take care of wall problems quickly, as they only get worse and can lead to dangerous foundation issues (including collapse). We used a combination of wall anchors and Power Braces to stabilize and straighten the wall and prevent further bowing.

Bowing Wall in Gowen Basement

By the time a bowing wall is visible, it's entering the danger zone. As the soil outside puts pressure on the wall, it continues to bow inward and can collapse if not stabilized.

Stairstep Crack in Basement Wall

Ignore the shadow of our System Design Specialist, Tom - basement lighting can be tricky for photos! Instead, focus on the starstep crack visible in the block wall - a classic sign of bowing. And even worse, there was water leaking through the crack, which can lead to mold problems.

Split Block Wall in Gowen, MI

Block walls can be especially scary in a bowing wall situation because you can literally see the blocks breaking apart and shifting.

Water Damage in Basement

The water entering the basement through the wall cracks left its mark in the form of dirt and debris left behind.

PowerBrace Stabilizes Bowing Wall

You can see from the PowerBrace installation how severely the wall is bowed. The PowerBrace will prevent the wall from bowing further and also help straighten it over time as the brace is tightened.

PowerBraces Secure Bowing Wall

By installing PowerBraces along the bowing wall, we can stabilize it and not only prevent further bowing, but hopefully straighten it over time.

Wall Anchors Secure Bowing Wall

On the other side of the bowing wall, wall anchors were installed for a little extra oomph when it came to straightening and stabilizing. The anchors (covered here by concealing plates) are anchored in the soil outside.

Wall Anchor Secured in Soil

For the wall anchors to stabilize the wall, they have to be...well, anchored, in the soil outside. We install the anchor far enough out to avoid the shifting soil that caused the problem in the first place.