Question about fixing a bowed foundation wall before it gets worse

I ran into a bowed block wall at a reno over in Akron last month and it took me 11 hours just to get the wall plumb again. Anchors alone didn't do it, I had to brace it in stages and wait overnight for the mud to set before pulling it further. The homeowner kept asking if I was sure it wouldn't crack again, which made me second-guess my process. Next time I'd start with a laser level and check the sill plate for twist first, that threw me off for a full afternoon. Has anyone else dealt with a wall that moves a bit after you think it's locked in? What did you use to hold it steady while the mortar cured?

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olivias888d ago

Ran into the same thing on a place in Barberton last year, block wall was bowed about 2 inches in the middle. What worked for me was using adjustable steel push piers on the inside and cranking them a quarter turn every few hours, not all at once. I also left wood shoring posts up against the wall for a full week after I thought it was done, just to take the pressure off while the mortar set up. The wall did creep back a little the first night, maybe an eighth of an inch, so I snugged the piers up again and it held after that. Checking the sill plate first is smart too, I skipped that once and wasted half a day chasing a twist that was coming from up top the whole time.

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