What are the Other Solutions for Bowing Walls?

Wall anchors are some of the most common and effective repair methods used for bowing walls in homes across the country, but they are not the only solutions available. The main alternatives are carbon fiber reinforcement and wall beam installation. 

Carbon Fiber Reinforcement 

Carbon fiber reinforcement is a fairly simple, non-invasive solution that is both cost-effective and efficient in preventing the continued deviation and bowing of damaged walls. The main downsides to this form of repair, however, are that carbon fiber reinforcement is not a process that can straighten damaged or bowing walls. It can only reinforce it to prevent further buckling and deviation. This repair method can only be used on walls that have deviated by two inches or less. 

For those walls that are suitable for carbon fiber reinforcement, however, this is a quick and extremely cost-effective process that requires no excavation. In order to apply the carbon fiber straps, professionals will need to roughen the damaged walls and use epoxy resin to set them in place. This is very easy to disguise and can be entirely completed in a few hours or less, including the time that it takes to allow the resin to cure. 

Wall Beams 

Wall beams are similar to wall anchors, but they are far more widely suitable than wall anchor systems. Unlike wall anchors, wall beams do not need any exterior space for installation. This means that they can be installed in basements of any size, and they can be installed in homes that have no yard space. Like wall anchors, however, they can be used to actively rectify deviation in walls. This is something that carbon fiber reinforcement cannot do. 

Wall beam systems involve the use of steel beams that are affixed to the floors and ceilings attached to a bowing wall. By attaching to these uncompromised surfaces, wall beams essentially brace themselves using the weight of the property and use this stability to apply pressure to a bowing wall and prevent further deviation. By increasing the tension over time, professionals can also use wall beams to rectify leaning or bowing walls. Like wall anchors, wall beams can be used to straighten damaged walls, but they are much harder to disguise.