Basement Wall Repair: Fixing a Tilted-In Wall

Any damage to basement walls can call for basement wall repair techniques to quickly sure up the property. The walls in the basement are very important because these are what's keeping the rest of your house standing.

If these walls bow or start to tilt inwards then you may need to consider the basement wall repair options available to you. These aren't actually that difficult and if done properly you can save yourself a fortune.

Step 1 - Inspecting the Damage

If you suspect that your basement wall has suffered any damage then the first thing you need to do is take a look at the entire problem. Rip all of the dry walling off the walls, and also make sure you remove any other wall coverings. You need to expose the blocks of the wall so that you can see where the problem lies.

Only by taking a look at the wall itself will you be able to decide how to correct it and put it right. You will need to find a way to straighten the wall and put it right.

Step 2 - Filling Cracks

While you have the walls exposed you may as well take the time to fill any cracks using hydraulic cement. This will increase the strength of your overall building. Hydraulic cement is a special type of cement which expands as it dries, this ensure that it is kept firmly in place.

Step 3 - Checking for Movement

All houses and buildings will settle over time which will cause them to move. This movement will create cracks and stresses on the property which could result in tilted in walls. You will need to check whether your building is still settling, this can be done using metal plates on walls to measure the movement, or a plum bob to check that everything is still level.

If the house is still moving then filling cracks probably wont do any good because they will crack again when the house moves more.

Step 4 - Fixing the Wall

When it comes to fixing the wall you have a few options. The most severe option would be to take the wall down and rebuild it again. This however won't be something that you want to do unless you can't avoid it. The easiest methods of fixing a bowed in wall will be using wall anchors or steel beams.

Steel beams are fitted into the wall and mortared in place. This gives the wall more integrity and will give your house some extra support. They should also prevent the problem with your walls becoming any worse. As long as steel beams are fitted properly you shouldn't have any problem correcting tilted in walls.

As with everything else it's important to complete this project as quickly as possible. The longer you leave it before starting work, the more difficulty you will have fixing the bowed in wall. Tilted in walls do need swift attention to ensure that they won't endanger your property.