Sparland, IL Bowing Wall Repair

Challenge

A homeowner in Sparland, IL, was preparing to sell their property but faced a significant concern: noticeable bowing in the basement walls. Understanding the importance of transparency and structural integrity for prospective buyers, the homeowner was committed to addressing this issue proactively rather than passing it on to the next owners. Bowing basement walls are a common problem, often caused by hydrostatic pressure from saturated soil outside the foundation, which pushes against the walls, leading to inward movement and potential instability. If left unaddressed, this can lead to more severe damage, including cracking and eventual wall collapse. 

Solution

To provide a permanent and effective solution, our team recommended and installed the GeoLock Wall Anchor System. This innovative system is designed to stabilize and straighten bowing, buckling, and tilting foundation walls. The GeoLock system utilizes a series of earth anchors that are installed in stable soil away from the foundation. These anchors are connected to steel wall plates on the interior of the basement wall by long, threaded rods. The tension created by tightening these rods counteracts the external pressure on the wall, pulling it back towards its original position and preventing further inward movement. 

The Installation Process

1. Exterior Excavation: Small holes are excavated in the yard, typically about 10-15 feet away from the foundation wall, to install the earth anchors. This distance ensures the anchors are placed in stable, undisturbed soil. 
2. Interior Wall Preparation: On the inside of the basement, a small section of the wall is prepared where the steel wall plate will be mounted. 
3. Rod Installation: A small hole is drilled through the basement wall, and a high-strength, galvanized steel rod is threaded through it, connecting the interior wall plate to the exterior earth anchor. 
4. Anchor Placement: The earth anchors are driven into the ground at the bottom of the exterior excavations, ensuring they are firmly embedded in the stable soil. 
5. System Assembly: The interior wall plate is secured to the steel rod, and the exterior anchor is connected to the other end of the rod. 
6. Tightening and Stabilization: Using a specialized wrench, the threaded rods are gradually tightened. This process immediately stabilizes the wall and, over time, can even help straighten the wall back to its original vertical position as the soil outside settles and the anchors exert continuous pressure. 
7. Restoration: Once the system is installed and tightened, the exterior excavations are backfilled, and the interior wall can be refinished, leaving a minimal footprint. 

Upon completion of this GeoLock Wall Anchor project, the homeowner's basement walls were not only stabilized but significantly straightened. The GeoLock Wall Anchor system provided a robust and long-lasting solution, addressing the root cause of the bowing. The homeowner was immensely pleased with the outcome, confident that the structural integrity of the home was restored and that the property was now ready for sale without any lingering foundation concerns. This solution provided peace of mind for both the current owner and future inhabitants.