Expert Basement Repair

Carbon fiber is strands of fiber made originally from Nylon fiber,then baked to 3000 degrees to change its chemical form to become a much stronger compound...carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is exceptionally strong for its size and weight. When the strands of carbon are woven or placed parallel with each other, they become exponentially stronger than many other materials. Fortress carbon fiber, with a cross weave of Kevlar, has been tested to be 10 times stronger than steel in a tension application, meaning being pushed, not compressed. Picture on right shows Fortress carbon fiber being installed..................................>>>

Carbon fiber will not stretch and when it is bonded to a bare or properly prepared concrete surface and it will not delaminate or stretch once bonded to the wall or surface. When tested to failure Fortress carbon fiber endured a force ten times normally generated on a basement wall. see this video of the actual testing.  http://expertbasementrepair.com/carbon-fiber-structural-integrity-video
Carbon fiber composites are as high-tech as you can get today. The new Dreamliner aircraft, space shuttles, boat masts, racing bicycles, racing cars, bullet-proof vests are all made from this modern day miracle composite. Carbon fiber is frequently used for repairs to concrete bridges and commercial and industrial concrete structures. Carbon fiber has been used for more than 15 years by industry and recently has moved into residential repair and stabilization as the production costs have diminished.

Fortress carbon fiber products now routinely replace Steel I beams, wall anchors, grip-tite anchors. The advantages of carbon fiber over these older technologies is well documented...just ask any structural engineer.
A cracked and bowing basement wall is a real problem most of the time. This is an indication of a problem with soil conditions outside the wall. If the condition is not corrected the wall will usually continue to crack and bow and move inward over time. The amount of time will vary greatly depending upon a variety of site conditions.
Here's additional information on most of the methods available to stabilize your wall and the average costs associated with them. Most interior stabilization does not require outside excavation to releive wall pressure.     
First of all we are talking about cement block walls. You must be sure the wall is being pushed inward and not settling. This inward movement generally results in a horizontal crack along the entire wall with stairstep cracking at the corners, and sometimes stair steeping on the adjacent walls. Vertical cracking from floor to ceiling, especially on two adjacent walls is usually settlement...where the foundation is allowing the wall to sink and settle. This requires another type of repair.

Traditional wall stabilization was almost always the installation of STEEL BEAMS. These beams were often bolted to the floor or set into the floor and concreted in place. They were then attached at the the top of the wall into the floor joists with framing. Be aware that steel beams are sometimes undersized for the wall loads! Expect to have a harder time selling your home later.

Rod and grout was the next method to come along. Steel rebar is inserted into the wall and then cemented into place along the length of the rods.
There are many skill and knowledge factors required for this work. The rods must be tied into the sill plate and extend below the floor. The grout has to be a specific mix. Rod positioning along the entire wall length is crucial. Simply sticking rebar in the wall and pumping in concrete does little for structural integrity if guidelines are not followed.

Full wall anchors do the same thing as the anchors above but have a full wall length wall plate mounted on the wall with a nut which requires monthly tightening. Spacing is usually 6" apart but should be closer. You can't finish the walls when you have to tighten the anchor bolts monthly!

Carbon fiber fabric is the latest entry into the wall stabilization race. Tried, tested and proven to be 10 times stronger than steel beams. ( in tension )
Carbon fiber comes in three versions for basement walls. One version is a fabric mesh which is put on the walls as a large patch. Usually the patch is 2'-4' long and covers the center of the wall. Often these units DO NOT address the higher hydrostatic pressures developed at the bottom two blocks of the wall because they are not long enough. Spacing seems to vary on these. Long term adhesion to the wall has been a problem in the Cleveland Ohio area.

Carbon fiber plate is very strong. It is manufactured to withstand standard hydrostatic pressure but not differential movement / pressure as it is woven in one direction only. This product requires cleaning with Methyl Ethyl Keytone before installation. 4'spacing is standard.

Fortress carbon fiber strength far exceeds any ground / hydrostatic pressure that could ever be developed and is the most versatile of all the carbon products as it is woven with carbon and kevlar and is designed to address differential pressure movement as well as standard hydrostatic pressure. 4' spacing is standard.

*  From an engineering design, performance and warranty point of view you must stabilize the entire wall length. Should you choose to have EBR perform your wall stabilization with Fortress carbon fiber you will always receive a double lifetime and transferable warranty! contact us for more information.

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If you are experiencing basement water problems from water coming down your block wall there may be a simple solution. In some areas of the country snow will build up against the outside walls. If you outside walls are masonry brick and are not sealed water from melting snow will wick into the brick and make its way into your basement.

A simple solution is often to move the snow away from your walls before it melts. When the weather gets warmer have a clear masonry concrete sealer applied to waterproof the surface!

              Right now is the best time to consider scheduling foundation and stabilization  repairs... Beginning in late April the weather gives us guys in the trenches somewhat of a break. The ground starts to dry out. Coming and going through your yard doesn't tear up your lawn like it does when everything is wet and saturated. Your wall cracks have started to close up as much as they are ever going to this year because the hydrostatic pressure outside is much less in drier weather. When things start getting wet again the walls are going to start moving inward again...and perhaps become even worse. It's also easier to do this kind of work when you aren't freezing and you can come and go inside without losing all your heat! Adhesives and sealants and waterproofing products perform and install better when warm.

Prices are as low as they are ever going to be! Many vendors are struggling to keep their crews busy...and even to keep their doors open. ( especially the ones with high overhead ) You'll see the best prices that will ever be available...but not for much longer.Have you been putting off your basement repairs? A lot of people have, and I'll tell you why it's not a good idea. Everyone knows the economy is tough right now and we're all wondering what's going to happen. Well the fact is that things are going to be slow for a while. You might as well get used to it. One thing that isn't going to wait for the economy to turn around is your foundation!

Cracked walls and wet walls do not get better with time. The problems are not going to go away. They will continue to get worse and in turn be more costly to repair in the future. Wall cracks will grow wider over time causing more and more damage. Wet walls breed mold, mildew and nasty odors. Concrete block will rot and become brittle when subjected to years of water saturation. Summer is the absolute best time to do this type of repair.

The economy will come back...it always has and always will. When it does prices will go back up quickly, especially if oil prices increase as Fortress epoxy is a byproduct of oil. Prices will also soon be affected by the devestation in Japan as many of the products used in our industry are now shut down or diminished in manufacturing capacity. If you spend money on nothing else invest it in your home. You'll never go wrong making needed repairs that will prevent further damage and problems at the best prices that you'll likely never see again in the future.

This is what I'd do for my home if I needed to.  By the way, I'm closely and personally involved in every job we do.  Best wishes, jim.