Foundation Replacement: What To Expect In Terms Of Repairs When You Have A Bowed Wall

A bowed or bowing foundation wall is a very serious situation. Your house relies on its foundation to remain erect, and a bowing wall indicates that there is too much pressure pushing against it and from above to maintain its flat, vertical shape. It is important to hire a foundation contractor as soon as possible because you may be able to repair just this one wall and not have the expense of an entire foundation replacement. Here is what you can expect in terms of repairs when you have a bowed (or bowing) wall in your foundation.

Everything around the Wall Has to Be Removed

To get to the bad wall from below, everything surrounding it has to go. All of your landscaping, the soil, yard decorations and even extra structures like a sunroom or gazebo have to be removed. The contractor and his or her crew will excavate all the way down to the very bottom of the wall underground, and then excavate outwards several feet in order to create a work trench for the crew. If you do have any extra buildings connected to the same side of your house as the bowed wall, your contractor may be able to gently remove them out of the way until the work on the wall is complete.

The Exterior Damage Is Examined and Taken into Consideration

Since there are a couple of different approaches your contractor could choose, it is important to assess the exterior damage of the bowed wall after the wall has been excavated. If the damage is minor, your contractor may use helical anchors to secure and pull the wall back into its original position. If there is a little more damage, traditional foundation anchors may be the best option. The worst case scenario for bowed walls is that your house may need to be lifted and the entire foundation wall will need to be replaced.

The Best Approach and Repair Method Is Applied

Once the contractor determines the severity of your bowed wall and chooses the best approach and repair method for your particular problem, the crew gets to work. Wall anchors of either variety are often installed quickly, while the wall foundation replacement may several days to a few weeks. The old wall has to come out and an entirely new wall has to be poured, formed and set.

The Excavated Dirt Is Replaced and Structures Are Put Back

Finally, the excavated dirt, which is often placed in piles around your yard, is moved back into the trench around the repaired or replaced wall. The contractor's crew may smooth it out once the hole is filled. Then, any structures that the contractor moved for you may be moved back into place, leaving you with the job of redoing the landscaping around this area.