Foundation Repair Photo Album: Supporting and Waterproofing a Brick Foundation Wall
Shirley L. from Nokomis, IL. had foundation walls made from brick and mortar. While this construction method is normally very stable, the forces from the naturally expanding soil pressed inward and caused these walls to crack and bow inward.
The damaged walls threaten the longevity of the home as a whole and the large cracks allow water to leak inside. Shirley L. attempted to fix this problem with support beams, but the beams couldn't help straighten the wall or prevent further cracking. That's because they only treat the symptoms of the problem and not the cause; expanding soil.
To correctly and permanently fix the issue with bowing walls, Woods Basement Systems installed GeoLock™ wall anchors in the threatened areas to pull the foundation wall into a straight and supported position. These wall anchors work by connecting an interior plate to an anchor plate buried outside with a steel rod. This connection is tightened, pulling the interior plate towards the anchor plate, which pulls the wall back to a straight position and permanently supports it against the pressures from the soil again.
The plates can also be temporarily removed, which allowed Woods Basement Systems to install CleanSpace™ wall mounts all along the wall and behind the wall anchors. CleanSpace™ was originally designed to be used in crawlspaces, but was adapted to be used as the perfect vapor barrier on walls. CleanSpace™ would be permanently fastened to the wall, where the tear-proof material would block moisture coming in from outside and direct it down the back side of the liner.
From there, the CleanSpace™ system was tied into a WaterGuard™ perimeter drainage system. WaterGuard™ would collect any water blocked by CleanSpace™ as well as any water that might build up beneath the floor and threaten to flood up into the basement. The water that WaterGuard™ collects gets drained into the sump pump system to be removed from the home.
With the walls supported and the leaks blocked, this basement can be used however Shirley L. needs without worry of things being damaged from water leaks or collapsing walls.
Unprotected Brick Foundations
The brick foundation walls would leak water through tiny gaps between the bricks. This water could build up beneath the floor as well. The result: standing water inside the basement.
Cracked and Bowing Wall
This brick wall is cracking along the joints and beginning to sag inward from the pressure of the soil outside. These cracks can lead to serious damage as well as water leaks.
Ineffective Wall Support
These braces aren't able to properly support the damaged walls as they do not actually address the issue.
Adding WaterGuard™
WaterGuard™ is an excellent choice for waterproofing brick foundations as it can collect water both from below the floor and from higher on the wall. A built-in wall gap will collect any water that drips down the wall.
WaterGuard™ Along the Walls
By installing WaterGuard™ along the leaking walls, any drips from the wall will be collected before they can pool up on the floor.
CleanSpace™ with Wall Anchors
These metal plates are the interior portion of the wall anchor system that supports the wall. Behind them is the CleanSpace™ wall mount that will keep any water leaks from entering the basement and instead directs them to the WaterGuard™ system below.
CleanSpace™ Protection
The inside face of CleanSpace™ will remain totally dry from leaks on the outside and the liner is super tough. That means homeowners are free to stack or lean things against CleanSpace™ without worrying about damaging the liner or getting their items wet.
