Saving a Basement from Structural Failure and Water Damage in Somerset, Kentucky

Challenge

The loose soil around the foundation walls of this home was collecting massive amounts of water. The weight of the hydrostatic pressure was putting this basement through the ringer by causing cracks, bowed walls, and pools of water. This square house was sitting on a downward sloping hill where the back foundation wall was the only visible foundation wall from the outside. This slope was collecting rain water like crazy, and was causing three sides of the basement walls to deteriorate. The only side of the basement that didn't have any problems was the exposed foundation wall.

Solution

In order to fix these foundation and waterproof issues, we were going to have to design a hefty solution. We started by installing PowerBrace's on all three sides of the foundation walls that were experiencing bowing issues. We connected the PowerBrace's to the footers to relieve a lot of the pressure of those walls. We then installed 6 helical tieback's to the wall facing the front of the house, which was experiencing the most pressure. We install these helical tiebacks when PowerBrace's are not enough to guarantee the wall won't fall. The tiebacks require around 10 feet of excavation away from the foundation wall, and they are installed at a downward angle into the soil to ensure there will be no more lateral movement along the wall.  Three tiebacks on both sides of the porch combined with PowerBrace's are a sure way to guarantee this house won't experience any further foundational issues. 

We then began the waterproofing process. A lot of people forget about the foundational benefits from waterproofing a basement, but at The Basement Doctor, we know the two are forever related. When we installed our WaterGuard, we drilled weeping holes in the bottom of the foundation walls which will relieve a ton of weight and pressure of the walls as well. Combine that with a powerful SuperSump sump pump, you have a dry and relieved basement. The combined result is a saved basement!