Your soil type, density, and weather conditions are likely not the same as when the developer built your home. Especially in areas where homeowners experience the lake effect like the GTA, conditions are constantly changing. The changing climate and soil can create additional pressure on the walls of your foundation and result in bowing or cracking, a dangerous combination. These signs are a clear indicator of early structural decay on your building that can lead to eventual collapse.
Luckily, many options exist to repair this damage and save your structure from further cracking. The earlier you catch this issue, the easier the repair and lower the cost. When applicable, GJ MacRae recommends repairing the cracks and bows in a structure’s foundation using Structural Carbon Fiber.
What is Carbon Fiber?
Carbon fiber is a structural composite fiber made up of engineered atoms to create a strong, high tensile material that can withstand extreme elemental changes, water, and stress. Because of its flexibility, it can be distributed in many forms like yarns, cords, sheets, and more.
Carbon fiber is used commonly in construction and other industries as well. Likewise, since there are so many categories of use for carbon fiber, there are different subsets and composites to serve each purpose.
Carbon fiber is not a naturally occurring material and is manufactured in a lab setting.
Why Carbon Fiber?
Many industries use carbon fiber for its reliability and strength. The tightly locked chains of primarily carbon atoms make the material lightweight, incredibly strong, stiff, and high in tensile strength.
Carbon fiber has one of the highest pull strengths to exist. The pull strength means that the reinforcements will not bend or break regardless of pressure from external changes or tree roots. Repairing a below-ground structure requires confidence in your materials, as the failure of reinforcement could result in a dangerous and costly event.
When repairing the foundation walls, carbon fiber will be less work to install and less intrusion than rebuilding the entire structure. The installation results in a smooth flat wall to the rest of the foundation that can be painted over and disguised.
Where is Carbon Fiber Most Common?
Carbon fiber is most common in basement repairs to address any number of concerns. If a home inspector alerts you that you need any of these repairs done, carbon fiber restructuring may be the right answer.
- Retaining Wall Repair
- Structural Wall Opening
- Slab Strengthening
- Foundation Crack Repair
- Bowed Wall Stabilization
- Broken Corner Repair
- Concrete Beam Strengthening
- Concrete Column Repair
- Stem Wall Foundation Repair
When Do I Need Carbon Fiber Installation?
If you notice cracks in your walls, or concrete blocks starting to bow or step crack, that is a clear sign of soil or root pressure on your walls. The stress of this tension can cause a collapse without proper refurbishment.
If you see this kind of foundation damage in your basement, reach out to a professional like GJ MacRae Foundation Repair. When carbon fiber is installed correctly, this repair truly makes a difference in the safety of your home.
GJ MacRae has a 5-Step repair process for carbon fiber concrete foundation wall reinforcement to ensure that your structure will be safe moving forward, taking special care to address drainage and waterproofing.
Reach out to us here to get a quote.
GJ MacRae Foundation Repair
http://www.wetbasements.com
