Tom M. in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Challenge
When straightening a bowing or bulging basement wall, there are several options for repair. The trick is to find the proper solution based on the problem, conditions, and laws. This particular job was in the town of Rehoboth Beach in Sussex County Delaware. The homeowner noticed a significant horizontal crack along his basement wall. When the inspector from DryZone assessed the crack, he immediately thought of using a GeoLock Wall Anchor system to correct the damage. DryZone has installed countless wall anchor systems because they are effective at fixing the bowing action. The problem that this project presented was that the houses were very close together, too close to be able to use a wall anchor system. A GeoLock Wall Anchor generally requires around 12 feet of earth in between the two plates. What this means is that the earth plate should be around 12 feet from the basement wall in order to get the best results. Well, 12 feet would put the earth plate almost in the neighbor's basement. When the inspector saw this, he explained to the homeowner that they would have to go a different route.
Solution
Even though GeoLock Wall Anchors are the preferred method to fix a bowing basement wall, a PowerBrace system is a very close second choice. Both systems can be adjusted over time, and both systems carry a large warranty. the biggest difference is that the wall anchors use a rod and two steel plates to pull the wall back out, while the PowerBrace is a large steel beam the pushes the wall back out. After showing all the specifications and pictures to the homeowner, he agreed that it was the best solution for his home.
Project Summary
PowerBrace: Basement wall crack stabilization system
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