Foundation wall repair 1

[VictorAK]

Can anyone suggest a method to repair a foundation wall with a horizontal crack, approximately mid way down the wall, about 1/8-1/4" thick?
The wall is about 8 feet high in a 30 year old house.
I think the owner should excavate the soil around the house, remove and replace the wall, install new weeping tile to remove any potential hydrostatic pressure and waterproof the wall.
All of this sounds expensive, but adding deadman or columns inside the basement adjacent to the wall seem like band-aids.
Thank you.

 

[rowingengineer]

What about constructing a new wall inside and creating a drainage path behind the new wall?

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that them like it

 

[InDepth]

Sounds like a structural issue. The loads on the wall must be larger than it was designed for. How about Hand drilling screw anchors midheight and pouring a wale. This should change the support conditions for the better. You may also want to core drain holes in the wall to release water presure...but it may cost a bit to install a drainage system.

Do you have pics?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Suggest you bring in a couple of basement guys. Some of these people really do know they are doing - some do not.

At least get some opinions.

Short of replacing the wall - the most expensive avenue - the others do often look like bad-aids but are much cheaper and do work if installed correctly.

 

[PEinc]

VictorAK,
You did not give enough information for us to know how to address your problem. Is the wall concrete, block or stone? Is the cracked wall on the north side of the house? Does the lot slope and drain toward the cracked wall? Are the downspouts and gutters properly functioning? In addition to fixing the wall, you need to first eliminate the cause of the problem.

Look for a web site for Ram Jack @

http://www.ramjack.com/

Ram Jack and similar companies frequently fix basement walls.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[hangonsloopy]

Had a similar issue in a local basement due to a water pipe outside breaking, footer drain not functioning, and probable expansive soil. We used helical anchors through plates every couple of feet. You could also use a channel or plate up the wall and anchor through it. Check out what the cause is first, though, or you will keep seeing these issues all around. It was not an easy fix, but the owner won't have to worry about it again because ALL problems were addressed.

 

[oldestguy]

In cold country I have seen this caused by frost action sideways pushing. In such a case any outside work should address the freezing push action. Three things needed for this: frost susceptible soil, water (can come from below or above) and cold. Remove any one and no frost action.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

What about using epoxy injection? That is designed essentially to restore the initial strength of the concrete.... You'd still have to make sure that the original design is sufficient for strength calculations.

Alternatively, you could go with composite FRP (fiber reinforced polymers) on the inside surface.

If either of these solution ends up being appropriate, then I would think they would be cheaper (and less intrusive) than excavating and such.

 

[jhoulette]

Be sure to check the sill plate condition. Very common for houses built roughly 20+ years ago to have long straight walls with nothing other than the main floor joists bracing the top of the foundation wall. Failure typically occurs at the sill plate splitting or the joists sliding on the sill plate.
Common repair is steel angle bolted to inside face of foundation wall with wood plate between joists and steel angle. Attach joists to plate ans steel angle as needed to create needed bracing.

Similar bracing can be done with a FRP/kevlar strap and "bow tie" connection from foundation to rim board.

http://www.fortressstabilization.com/bowed-walls.php

Jim Houlette PE
Web:

http://www.evstudio.us

Online Magazine:

http://www.evstudio.info

 

[Ron]

As PEinc noted, you do not give enough information. A horizontal crack midway along the wall, assuming it is not faulted, is likely related to settlement, but who knows without more info. You do not give the length of the crack or its location along the wall.

Until you know the reason for the crack, you can't effect and appropriate repair....if you don't solve the issue, it will likely return.

More info please.....

Type of wall (masonry or cast in place). Reinforcing? Length of crack. Location along length of wall. Lateral faulting? Same width on inside as outside? Staining at crack and color of the stain. Proximity of trees to wall. Soil type around and under wall. Other distress in the structure? Frost depth?