Since the foundation is what supports your home, you should address any issues with it promptly. Seemingly small problems can wind up being indicators of deep structural issues. There are many signs of a shifted and weak foundation; bowing and buckling are prominent things to keep an eye out for. Foundation walls that are bowed or buckled can lead to leaks and even structural collapse. This is how to identify and repair a bowing and buckling foundation.
Cracks in the Foundation
Bowing and buckling manifests as bulging and otherwise bent walls in your basement. However, this movement can be subtle and hard to notice immediately. So, look for indicators of this condition that are simpler to identify. One such indicator is the presence of cracks in the foundation, which often occur when hydrostatic pressure from water in the ground surrounding your home pushes on the foundation. This water can gather in the soil due to rain and snow. Eventually, the force of it can make the foundation move. Due to the rigidity of the foundation’s brick or concrete, the movement creates visible cracks.
Uneven Doors or Windows
A more subtle yet still useful identifier of bowed and buckling foundation walls is an unevenness in your home’s doors or windows. Your foundation and your home overall aren’t built to accommodate significant shifts in the ground. When hydrostatic pressure exerts enough force to push the foundation out of its original position, the frames of the windows and doors can become misaligned with the windows and doors themselves. As a consequence, when you try to open or close them, you may face more resistance than usual or find they simply don’t swing or slide into place as they should.
Carbon Fiber Straps
To resolve bowing and buckling, you must find the source of the issue and strengthen your foundation walls so they won’t move as water saturation changes in the surrounding soil. Your best bet is to call a foundation repair company that will use carbon fiber straps to reinforce the foundation. They’ll seal off any cracks using epoxy injection. Then, they’ll attach the carbon fiber frame to the top of the house frame, along the walls, and at the foundation’s footer. This network of carbon fiber pieces serves to distribute the outside pressure evenly across the foundation, putting a stop to unwanted shifts. The carbon fiber will hold up in the long term as well; it’s strong and unaffected by temperature changes.
Contact The Real Seal today if you suspect that your foundation is bowed or buckled. We provide foundation repair in Chicago and employ the Rhino Carbon Fiber wall support system to effectively correct cracks and prevent future leaks. What’s more, Rhino Carbon Fiber comes with a lifetime warranty that you can trust in.
