Slightly Bowed Basement Wall

The soil expands and pushes against your foundation.

Slightly bowed basement wall.

You might also notice that your basement walls are bowed. It is more common than you might think for a concrete block foundation wall to bow inward. Most of the time a bowing wall is caused by hydrostatic pressure. One is right after construction of the foundation the contractor could have put the dirt back around the basement walls too soon too fast or without properly bracing the walls first causing a hairline fracture.

Walls with severe structural damage will show additional horizontal cracks shearing. The most common cause for foundation walls bowing in is saturated clay soils in the backfill. If you notice any cracks in the wall then they will need your attention first. Remove as much of the covering as possible so that you can look at the whole wall.

These conditions are common in indiana during snow melts and spring rains but can also be caused by poor drainage around your house. This often occurs when gutters are left unattended and rain water spills over them or downspouts drop right next to the foundation. This pressure develops when the soil around your house is saturated with water. The situation can develop slowly over many years from the force of water saturated soil pushing against.

Bowing or buckling basement walls rebuilding the foundation wall. The first thing you need to do is tear down anything that covers your basement wall so that you can examine the problem. Most basement foundation walls even if they are brick or block walls can be saved.