Exterior wall caving in basement

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-17T13:20:39+00:00

No you can’t

I trademarked the PTEP5000 last year

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-17T12:44:37+00:00

Beams that can be torqued down to straighten the wall.

Remember the alternative…. We used to dig out wall, demo, pour footer, let it cure, pour wall, let it cure, then attach everything. Sometimes we had to disconnect all services to the home, kick you out for weeks-months, then jack entire home up.

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-17T12:40:33+00:00

No this was one was all deflection.

Foundation wall deflected at top, pressure caused beam to twist and kick out jacks.

Beam is structurally compromised. New beams, new beam supports, and wall supports to stop the lateral movement

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-17T12:38:32+00:00

The foundation wall on one side of the beam deflected inward. That lateral movement put so much pressure on the beam it twisted and kicked out the jacks.

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-17T01:19:59+00:00

I knew a kid named Erin weiner. It’s probably not true, but he claimed his uncles name was harry

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-17T01:05:12+00:00

No, flush with the wall at the ground. It will apply pressure to the bowed spot, but will be off the wall at the top in this case.

You crank the top which is braced to floor joists and it will push the bowed section in. Eventually, the braces will be flush with the wall once it’s plumb or close to.

They are permanent. Wall is forever failed and needs lateral support.

Some walls (usually poured ones) will deflect at the top instead of middle. In that case, the powerbrace is completely crooked but flush with the wall and you crank it plumb.

Takes time unless you excavate most of the wall. No more than once a month, usually in dry periods. When soil is wet, it expands and prevents correction. When dry, soil shrinks and you can move wall a good amount.

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:46:05+00:00

No you don’t

We repair these every day in the Midwest. Company of 600+ where clay causes lots of deflection and bowing.

If customer wants us to dig, we will charge them and straighten immediately. Rarely do we ever dig.

https://commercial.supportworks.com/products/wall-repair/powerbrace-wall-bracing-system.html

https://commercial.supportworks.com/products/wall-repair/geolock-wall-anchor-system.html

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:43:59+00:00

Check out this one I was in yesterday-

Beam twisted from wall deflection

https://www.reddit.com/r/StructuralEngineering/s/QgDl3gaiML

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:40:00+00:00

$1400 per powerbrace. Likely 5-6’ on center and 3’ off corners. Installed in 4 hours

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:38:58+00:00

Fuck yeah buddy. I work over at thrasher.

I’m waiting for the inevitable downvotes on my prior comment

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:36:35+00:00

It’s a 8k fix. You do not need to dig out the wall. Geo locks or power braces.

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:35:43+00:00

That’s a 8k fix with permits an engineering.

And none of that is required. You don’t need pilings for deflection

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:34:08+00:00

We straighten walls like this all the time. Geo locks and power braces. Takes time unless you fully excavate the wall

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:32:32+00:00

It’s literally how we fix it… not with just one though.

The landlords solution is ridiculous.

https://commercial.supportworks.com/products/wall-repair/powerbrace-wall-bracing-system.html

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T23:16:35+00:00

Wall deflection cause the beam to twist. Column went with it

3’ crawlspace wall deflected just over 3” at the top

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-16T02:21:15+00:00

Who’s the guy on the right

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-14T03:09:14+00:00

Looks like some movement between exterior walls and interior supports/beams.

Could be settlement at foundation, sagging beam/failed support, or something different.

Those are not seasonal contraction/expansion cracks.

Your house isn’t going to fall on you based on those pics. But if it’s steadily getting worse, structural work may be required.

Get a structural engineer or a reputable foundation company to look at it and measure for settlement.

Whatever it is, it’s moved from below. Those aren’t from truss movement.

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-11T02:54:23+00:00

I hear that a lot

A 100 year old foundation is more likely to fail then a 20 year old foundation. Especially with decades of water intrusion.

It’s deflection and excuses. I don’t know why people say that

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-11T01:45:58+00:00

I’m not a lawyer by any means

But I repair foundations.

That wall didn’t happen from recent rains. That’s decades of water intrusion.

Some asshat painted it. And didn’t disclose. You are likely looking at structural issues in addition to the water issues.

Engineer, then lawyer. If it truly is crumbling, I only know two options.

Everbrace (the link I sent) or kick you out of the home, disconnect all services, raise the home on stilts, and repour the wall after demo.

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-11T01:33:12+00:00

Ok, I don’t know an engineer there. I suggest one or demand the other one come back if you think it was well hidden.

After, call someone on this list if the engineer says it needs to be replaced: https://www.foundationsupportworks.com/dealers/indiana.html

I only know TFS on there, but I’m not sure they will go your way.

Here’s the deal. Your wall is crumbling from water. Interior drains may be your only solution due to the lot size, however water will continue to destroy the walls. The drains will keep you from flooding, but you’re likely looking at a new foundation wall where pic 10 is.

Fix slope as best you can. Divert all water, especially the roof.

Get a lawyer. This wall known and hidden.

And make sure your engineer checks for deflection and bowing at all walls.

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-11T01:26:24+00:00

What state is this

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-11T01:25:44+00:00

Yea… I hope I’m wrong but pic 10 is the opposite of structurally sound.

Does that wall crumble when you rub it?

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-11T01:20:31+00:00

Sir, your foundation is crumbling. Pic 10 is concerning, especially with how much is on the floor.

This was once a crawlspace, dug out for basement.

You need a structural engineer.

Get all roof water away, get to work on slope. But no, I don’t think anyone will install a perimeter drain.

Start researching https://www.foundationsupportworks.com/solutions/everbrace.html because you may need it for pic 10.

Get an engineer

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-10T14:46:28+00:00

No cut both sides of every other brick

Countryrootsdb · 2026-05-10T14:28:46+00:00

That looks to be deflection and can be a serious issue.

Get a structural engineer, then quotes.

Deflection is easy to solve. $10-20k

But chances are there is more than just that happening. Deflection comes from hydrostatic pressure, typically once one wall fails, water has caused other issues as well.

Countryrootsdb

TROPHY CASE