Steve
09-18-2009, 03:05 PM
Bowed Basement Wall - Which type of wall anchor to use?
My rear basement wall (45ft long) has bowed in 1.5in causing come cracks and a sticking door. The foundation is poured/steel re-enforced. So far I have had two well known companies come out and give give two very different estimates. They each recommended different solutions and I'm not sure who to believe :)
Company#1 said to use Helical Wall Anchors instead of regular "Plate" type anchors. He said their company installs both but would only warranty the helical for me because there is a negative grade sloping towards the house. He said with a "plate" type wall anchor.. the plate out in the yard would move with the soil towards the house due to the negative grade.
Company#2 recommended a wall anchor system with two plates one inside and one buried in the yard. I asked them about helical wall anchors.. They said they could install them but they were unreliable and large holes left in the foundation were hard to waterproof. Also they said with their "plate" type wall anchor that I did not have to tighten anything periodically. That seems to conflict with other articles I have read.
To give you a description of what my backyard looks like.. There is a very small negative grade hill sloping towards the affected wall (approx. 5degree or less angle). It is like this until about 30 feet from the house then the hill gets much steeper approx. 30 degrees and is about 15ft tall.
I know without actually seeing my house it's hard to give advice. Do you prefer one wall anchor system over another? Does either company sound off base to you? Company#1 gave an estimate of $9200.00 and Company #2's estimate is $5700.00. That is a big difference for my family finances right now. BUT.. I want the job done right. Both have lifetime transferrable warranties.
Thanks in advance for any advice you may have.
-Steve
My rear basement wall (45ft long) has bowed in 1.5in causing come cracks and a sticking door. The foundation is poured/steel re-enforced. So far I have had two well known companies come out and give give two very different estimates. They each recommended different solutions and I'm not sure who to believe :)
Company#1 said to use Helical Wall Anchors instead of regular "Plate" type anchors. He said their company installs both but would only warranty the helical for me because there is a negative grade sloping towards the house. He said with a "plate" type wall anchor.. the plate out in the yard would move with the soil towards the house due to the negative grade.
Company#2 recommended a wall anchor system with two plates one inside and one buried in the yard. I asked them about helical wall anchors.. They said they could install them but they were unreliable and large holes left in the foundation were hard to waterproof. Also they said with their "plate" type wall anchor that I did not have to tighten anything periodically. That seems to conflict with other articles I have read.
To give you a description of what my backyard looks like.. There is a very small negative grade hill sloping towards the affected wall (approx. 5degree or less angle). It is like this until about 30 feet from the house then the hill gets much steeper approx. 30 degrees and is about 15ft tall.
I know without actually seeing my house it's hard to give advice. Do you prefer one wall anchor system over another? Does either company sound off base to you? Company#1 gave an estimate of $9200.00 and Company #2's estimate is $5700.00. That is a big difference for my family finances right now. BUT.. I want the job done right. Both have lifetime transferrable warranties.
Thanks in advance for any advice you may have.
-Steve