Cost of repairing cracked/bowed cinder block subterranean vault? I was wondering if anyone had appx cost of repairing cracked cinder...
I was wondering if anyone had appx cost of repairing cracked cinder block wall. There is nil supporting the inside of the blocks. The crack is about 1-2 feet from the top of the wall (at ground stratum?). the top portion is bowing inward. the crack spans the entire length of the wall and about 3-4 feet into the adjacent to walls. i think it has be there since 1959 when the house was built. i assume it resulted from improper backfilling. also there is a 20x40 foot inground pool right trailing the wall with concrete b/t the house and the pool. the crack at its widest is about 2-3 ". any suggestions on how to repair (located within western michigan), or companies to repair it , etc, are greatly appreciated. also personal stories that are similar and costs of repair would also help me get a better theory. thankyou
Answers: We had a similar problem with a home we purchased contained by 1982 that was 19 years old. A structual obtain had placed steel posts to support the upper floor for safety reason. I had an engineer inspect it prior to purchase, and assured me it be that way shortly after the build. The problem is caused by unacceptable build, drainage, and back fill. It will cost a few thousand dollars to repair. Most potential, it has not changed since the house was built, but if you want piece of mind, it will own to be dug out, wall repaired, gravel, drainage, and sealer installed. Get advice from a structal engineer.
I've built some habitat homes and we use the cinder block sometimes to build the underground store. I know for one thing if I was going to do the brief myself, I would indeed support that side of the house where I would be working with house jacks and considerable timbers. I think i would then contract the work out, the actual lay the concrete blocks to make sure it was structural ok. You know what? Its going to be simply a lot of work. First of all - a touch lesson on terminology. Cinder block is a do it yourself term. Your blocks are any Concrete or Haydite. Concrete is just that concrete. Haydite is a lighter weight block (which is commonly referred to as cinder block).
If your walls are really haydite block and not concrete - I bet they are concrete, there probably was not plenty mass weight to hold the soil back.
Anyway, you know you cannot push that bowed wall wager on.
You should take it out and re-lay with tentative block, using durawall embedded in horizontal joint, and pilasters every 8' across the wall.
Short of taking the wall out, You can add pilasters to the inside wall, but they need to be hefty and grouted full.
Call a masonry contractor for a price quote.