Bowed Foundation Wall in Basement

[FrankS]

Hi, my home is about 50+ years old. The home is 2 story built on a downward slope that makes the front look like a 1 story rancher, but the back is a full 2 story. The foundation is 8" block. The finished basement's front block wall is bowed about 3" in the middle. The length of the wall is about 28 feet. There are slight 1/16" horizontal cracks in the mortar where the bowing is. We don't have a water problem but there is a moisture/mold problem that has recently been addressed and remediated. That's when I discovered the bowing. It looks like the bowing has been present for about 20 - 25 yrs. The original owners (not the ones we bought from) installed 2 double 2"x12"'s in the center to brace the bowing. I want to reinforce the wall to prevent any further bowing. Is Carbon Fiber a viable approach? I also plan on re landscaping the front of the house to minimize water build up during rain storms. I would appreciate your thoughts and comments on this situation.

Thanks,
FrankS

[FIXITGUY1971]

Frank,
I would suggest you excavate this wall to relieve the pressure. These walls frequently move back on their own once the trench is opened up. At this point the wall may be straight enough that you can stabilize it in place. Carbon fiber is a good choice for cement block walls. Be sure to check for shear issues at the bottom. Shearing problems require additional work to stabilize.
Fixitguy