Construction of a building, particularly the foundations and walls, can lead to bowing walls. Bowing walls are a problem in the construction of a building. That’s because they are unstable and can lead to the collapse of the structure. Often, one side of a wall will be raised higher than another due to differences in level between adjacent foundations. Walls that are bowing will often lean outwards or inward. As well as causing damage to masonry. This difference in level can also cause problems for nearby structures, such as chimneys and windows.
1. How To Identify Bowing Walls
There are several signs that a wall is bowing. The most obvious sign of bowing walls is that one side of the wall will be higher than the other. If you have a small home or business, this is probably not very noticeable. However, if you have a large building, such as an apartment block or commercial property, then it will be apparent that one side of the building is higher than the other. Cracked masonry can also be a sign of bowing. The cracks will often start at the bottom of the wall and travel upwards, as if they were being stretched to their limit. Walls leaning at an angle of more than 10 degrees are also a sign of bowing walls. Larger buildings may lean more than 10 degrees, but if this is the case, there will be other signs that the building is leaning.
2. What Causes Walls To Bow?
Bowing walls may also be caused by the action of water on the soil, particularly where the ground rises above a stream or river. In some cases, bowing is caused by changes in the way foundations were previously built. For example, if the foundations for a building were originally built over a stream, then the ground may have risen as the ground level rose, causing the foundations to sag. Other foundations may have been built on a slope, and so the ground may have risen more than the foundations.
3. What Is The Solution
Through wall reinforcement and straightening, the wall can be returned to its original state. This is typically done by installing additional anchors on the exterior of the wall, as well as installing some sort of internal reinforcement. The wall may also need to be straightened by removing soil from around the foundations (either by digging or by removing a retaining wall), and then filling in the holes with concrete.
Straightening these wall will not always be simple. If you suspect that your walls are bowing, then it is important to check. Contact Toledo Basement Repair for professional help with your bowing walls. We can help you get your building back to normal. We also offer a free estimate on any waterproofing or basement needs and that we can also off 10% off on the next job. Bowing walls and foundations can be dangerous because they may collapse, causing damage to the building or to neighbouring properties. You can also follow us on Facebook!
Kevin Oberhouse was raised in Toledo with 7 siblings. Dawn and Kevin have four kids.
The Oberhouse family lives in the house Kevin built when with his first crew. Kevin’s parents invited more than 100 foster children into their home throughout his life. Kevin believes this part of his life really helped to build empathy for others.
Kevin has a degree in civil engineering and went on to get an MBA as well as multiple other certifications in structural systems, egress systems, air quality, and commercial and residential roofing, among many others.
Toledo Basement Repairs promises to treat you and your project with respect and our best professional judgment. There is plenty of work out there and Toledo Basement Repair will not push you into a system that you do not fully understand or feel comfortable with.
