Bowing Basement Walls: Causes and How to Fix the Problem, Bloomington, IL

The foundation of your house is a key determinant of its strength of the house. The foundation bears the house’s weight and ensures that the building stands firm. Given that your basement’s walls are part of the foundation of your building, any sign of bowing basement walls can be concerning.

Bowing basement walls are a sign of foundation damage. If left unrepaired, bowing basement walls can cause severe horizontal cracks, which may lead to the crumbling of some sections of the foundation. At this point, your house will be unsafe to live in.

Knowing the causes of basement wall bowing and how a professional repair company can help you address the issue is critical for a timely response to the problem.

Factors that cause basement wall bowing

• Plumbing leaks: Unchecked plumbing leaks near the basement wall can cause the soil to be saturated with water. This increases the hydrostatic pressure that is exerted on the basement walls, which can cause them to bow.
• Heavy rain: Heavy rain can lead to sudden water saturation in the soil that surrounds the basement wall. Hence, there will be a sudden increase in the level of hydrostatic pressure that the soil exerts on the basement walls, causing them to bend.
• Large roots: Large roots can also exert pressure on the basement walls as they grow and expand.
• Frost heave: Frost heaving causes the soil that borders the basement walls to swell. As the soil occupies more space, it piles pressure on the basement walls, which can cause them to curve inwards.
• Poorly shaped landscape: Land that has been poorly graded or not graded at all can cause surface runoff to flow toward your house. Over time, the water’s effects can cause your basement walls to bend.
• Damaged or wrongly positioned gutters and downspouts: Damaged or incorrectly installed gutters and downspouts can dump roof water near the foundation. This will cause the soil to become saturated with water and exert more hydrostatic pressure on your basement’s walls.

How to fix the problem

If you suspect that you have bowing basement walls, you should consult a professional basement repair company. The company’s technicians will inspect your home for any signs of damage.

If your walls are bowed, the technicians will use techniques such as steel bracing, wall anchors, or carbon fiber to fix the problem. They will also implement measures to help prevent future damage to your basement walls.

Contact the Professionals at Everdry Waterproofing of Illinois Today! (630) 769-9300

Zach Krachinski

All waterproofing companies have to make a choice. They can assume an attitude of, “no one’s perfect,” and “the homeowner won’t notice that,” or “close enough.” Or they can do what Everdry Illinois  does… and insist on strict standards and absolute precision.

And while waterproofing contractors in Illinois, unfortunately, choose the “close enough” route, Everdry Illinois has committed to the highest standards of service and installation. We always, always, ALWAYS do it the RIGHT WAY.

In addition to our excellent professionals, we have also carefully built a top team of managers and office support people. The office support staff are exceptionally skilled at listening to what you want and then making the right recommendations for your budget and tastes.

The office support people are well-trained to avoid the typical frustrations of “I don’t know” answers. (And if they really don’t know, they’ll get you to the right person). The typical customer service frustrations that are so common nowadays are not the “Everdry way”.