Foundation Repair Photo Album: Stabilizing Bowing Basement Walls in Central Lake, MI

Our customer called because their lake house had basement walls that bowed severely when the ground froze. They'd never noticed water problems and the walls always returned when the temperature rose, so they'd left it along for a few years, but they recognized that it was a problem that would eventually be unavoidable. We used a combination of wall anchors and PowerBraces to stabilize and straighten the walls, no matter what the temperature is outside.

Closeup of Bowing Wall

It's easy to see why people miss bowing walls until they're at a crisis point. The bow is only slightly visible here, but as you'll see in a wider shot, gets more discernible as you look at the big picture.

Crack in Bowing Wall

The mortar in between blocks can crack as a wall bows, giving visual evidence of movement.

Wide Angle Puts Bowing in Perspective

Starting with the block underneath the sealed window, you can see not only cracks in the mortar, but the bowing of the wall.

Extensive Cracks in Wall

The mortar is cracking at the same level all along the walls - this is the pressure point.

Outside Cracking in Basement Wall

Cracks in this wall were visible outside, which shows how bad the problem has gotten.

Wall Anchors Stabilize Bowing Wall

We install wall anchors at an interval that will ensure stabilization. They're anchored in stable soil far beyond the shifting point outside to allow for stability and hopefully straightening over time.

C-Channel Wall Anchors Provide Heavy Duty Support

These longer wall anchors can be used where the point of bowing is broader to provide more support and stability.

Two Types of Wall Anchors

Although these products look different, they're both attached to the wall and anchored in the ground the same way; the only difference is how much of the wall is at risk and therefore needs protection.

Wall Anchors Secured in Ground

We anchor the cables from the wall anchors into soil that isn't affected by shifting. This allows us to create tension in the anchors to stabilize the wall and, with tightening, eventually straighten it.

Side View of Wall Anchor Secured in Ground

The installation of wall anchors does not cause chaos in the ground around it - we hydraulically drill the cable through the ground and only punch out a small area of soil to secure the anchor.

PowerBraces Stabilize Wall

In addition to wall anchors, we used PowerBraces to help stabilize the walls. PowerBraces are secured to the footer and the joists to ensure floor to ceiling protection, and they too can be tightening in the hopes of straightening the wall.