A solid foundation is essential for a well built home. It’s necessary for more than just holding your home above ground; It also acts as insulation and blocks out moisture. Unfortunately over time, it’s pretty common for a home’s foundation to start buckling or bowing due to a variety of factors. There are many signs of foundation issues to look out for and you might be able to repair early on. What we see most often, though, is the soil surrounding a home collects enough water to the point of expanding, and this applies a great deal of pressure to the basement walls. This leads to cracks, leaks, and an overall unreliable foundation that requires repair.
The good news is that modern day technology has allowed us to create foundation wall anchors to act as a support for any foundation that is experiencing instability or significant flexing. Read on to learn more about what wall anchors are, and how they work to permanently repair structural issues with your foundation.
What are foundation anchors, anyway?
Foundation wall anchors are made up of two steel plates that are connected by a shaft. One of the plates is placed on the inside of your basement wall, and the other is placed in the soil underground on the outside of the basement. The outer plate is typically placed about 10 feet from your foundation wall, so there is a bit of excavation work required on this project. Once these plates are installed, the steel rod is tightened, thereby applying force to the wall until it’s reached desired placement.
A Permanent Solution
Once you’ve had foundation wall anchors installed, you’ll be able to have peace of mind knowing that you’ve avoided a much larger and more costly project: foundation replacement. Foundation wall anchors act as a permanent solution to the flexing you notice in your walls. On the inside of basement walls, the anchors act as a counter to the pressure that is presented by the earth’s soils to keep the structure upright. Once these are installed, you may notice a very slight bow in the walls still, but over time you’re able to tighten the anchors until the walls have resumed their original position.
Before Installation
There are a few things you’ll want to think about before moving forward with foundation wall anchors. A professional team like A.M. will be able to assist you in this process to help you decide on next steps, but consider the following:
- Your property size – As mentioned above, excavation is required for wall anchor installation, to be able to place one of the anchor plates underground in the soil. The digging will start at least 10 feet out from where your foundation sits, so you’ll want to make sure there’s enough room for this to happen.
- Work permits needed – Depending on your location, your municipality might require work permits for renovation or construction work to take place on your property. A team experienced in foundation and wall anchor work should be able to help you confirm what will be needed prior to starting the project.
- Your budget – Make sure to discuss any budget limitations with your foundation team before moving forward. Once a full inspection has been completed on your property, you should be given a detailed time & cost estimate for the project. Because there are so many variables in a wall anchor installation project, we can’t give a specific cost here but the general average cost is a couple of thousand dollars.
No Time to Waste
If you’ve recently noticed signs of your walls bowing or buckling, you don’t want to hesitate on having repairs completed. The more time that passes by, the more costly and inconvenient the project will become. If you’re in the western PA area, reach out to A.M. Wall Anchor & Waterproofing today to get your free inspection & estimate scheduled. With nearly two decades in foundation repair & wall anchor installation, we’re a team you can trust. Our reliable, cost conscious team will let you know exactly what needs to be done to put your mind at ease.
