Foundation Repair Photo Album: Saving A Home After Years Of Erosion In Saint Joseph, MI

Elsie's block foundation home had numerous structural issues from years of erosion. The steps in the front of her home had dropped away, causing the block foundation to follow. Thus, cracks formed in the foundation walls, making the steps unsafely steep. Her property manager decided to call Ayers to find a permanent solution for her home. Once a thorough inspection of her house was conducted, it was determined various structural supports were needed. The team at Ayers suggested installing GeoLock Wall Anchors, Carbon Armor, and Helical Piers. After Elsie gave the go-ahead and everything was installed, she felt safe in her home again!

Steps That Dropped Away From The Foundation

The inspection clearly showed that the stairs to Elsie's home were not level. Not to mention, there were visibly large cracks in the foundation beside the steps. These findings were most certainly worrisome and needed to be addressed.

Crack In the Foundation Of The Home

Cracks like these can cause massive problems within a basement. Not to mention, any gap in the foundation is a sign that the foundation is failing. The crew at Ayers knew that Elsie's home needed to be stabilized and secured!

Stair-Step Cracks In The Foundation

Stair-step cracks were visible all through the walls in Elsie's basement. Thus, backing up the idea that her basement needed to be stabilized and secured!

Utilizing Helical Piers For The Problematic Steps

The Team at Ayers decided that 3-inch Helical Piers would be perfect for the steps. Helical Piers work as a screw when going into the ground, as the bottom section of the pier has blades. The pier is screwed into the ground to the desired height. Once the desired size is met, steel foundation brackets are positioned below and against the foundational footing. Once the pier was secured, the steps to Elsie's home were leveled and permanently stabilized!

Carbon Armor and GeoLock Wall Anchors Save The Day

The team at Ayers determined that Carbon Armor and wall anchors would be perfect for Elsie's home. GeoLock Wall Anchors act as an anchor system that pulls the wall back into its original place, thus stabilizing it. Carbon Armor provides extra integrity to the foundation by utilizing carbon fiber straps glued to the wall. However, the adhesive is not regular glue, as the glue will penetrate the wall and provide a much stronger bond. These two products will permanently stop the walls from bowing and stabilize her home! Elise will no longer need to worry about her foundation failing!

Carbon Armor Strap

For extra stability, the carbon fiber strap that Carbon Armor uses runs up the wall and is attached to the floor joist. Carbon Armor is an excellent solution to stop a wall from bowing and provides extra stability to a foundation!

GeoLock Wall Anchor Load Bearing Plate

The GeoLock Wall Anchor system utilizes a plate buried in the ground outside of the damaged foundation. The plate is placed into a pre-dug hole, and a steel rod is drilled through the foundation to the anchor plate. Lastly, a low-profile wall plate is bolted to the wall and tightened to the steel rod. The GeoLock Wall Anchor system is a perfect option for bowing or cracked walls as it will straighten and stabilize them over time!