I purchased a home in 2005 with wall anchors that the previous owners had installed. We had the company come back to inspect the walls and now they say that we need wall beams. My question is should wall beams have been installed first instead of anchors? If the anchors are not doing the job should we be responsible for paying for wall beams or the company?

What do you mean by "wall anchors"? Are they the anchor bolts that attach the sole or sill to the foundation.They are necessary to prevent the home from being a new star in the "Wizard of Oz"movie or to provide lateral support and connection between the house and foundation.

the term "wall beam" is also a rather vague description.

Who is "the company"? Since you bought a home that was exiting over 5 years ago, you will have a difficult chance of collecting from the builder, especially if the home had a certificate of occupancy.

So typical. Try one "solution" after another without ever diagnosing the PROBLEM!! The problem is either outside your foundation wall, or the foundation wall itself. In neither case can the problem be fixed from inside the wall.

Either you have a wall that's cracking and leaking, or bowing. Here are the possible causes of such issues:
1. Wall thickness insufficent, or insufficient reinforcing, or insufficient bracing at the top of the wall to the floor structure above.
2. Hydrostatic (water) pressure OUTSIDE the wall.
3. Tree or shrub roots OUTSIDE the wall.
4. Incorrect backfill (tree stumps, boulders, construction debris) OUTSIDE the wall.
5. Heavy vehicles or equipment run too close OUTSIDE the wall.

It doesn't sound like anyone has actually diagnosed the problem. It could be, and is in fact very likely, that the best solution is to take tare of the problem where it exists...OUTSIDE the wall. You don't say what the original problem was/is, but presumably the wall is either cracking or bowing. Others should not be experimenting on your house and your bank account on a "let's try this now" basis.

As far as who might be responsible, you should consult an experienced real estate attorney for that answer. You don't say what state you live in, and laws concerning such issues vary from state to state.

The anchors in the wall lead out to the outside. We have to screw the anchors every other week during the months of April to September. Insta-Dry installed the anchors for the previous owners. The certificate transferred over to us when we purchased the home. They came out to check on the status of the anchors and now they say that the wall in another part of the basement needs I-beams. We had a second opinion and that company says that the other part of the basement is not the problem, it is where the wall anchors were installed. The wall is "wavy". One part is bulging in and the other is bulging out. The other company says that the I-beams should have been installed in the first place. We live in Michigan.

And I'll bet that not a dammed one of them have any clue as to exactly WHAT is causing the wall to bow! Chances are very good that it is something on the outside of the wall causing pressure on the wall...in fact, the proof of that is that you have to constantly adjust the anchors. If they had solved a problem, you wouldn't have to touch them. And you wouldn't now be needing steel beams.

A few questions that none of those bozos bothered to ask, I'll bet:
1. Is the wall built of concrete block?
2. How thick is the block?
3. What is the approximate dimension from the outside grade to the basement floor?
4. What is the general soil type in your lot?
5. Is the bowed wall parallel to or perpendicular to the floor joists above?
6. Is there a driveway directly adjacent to the bowed wall?
7. Are there any major trees or even large shrubs adjacent to or near the bowed wall?
8. Is there a porch or similar structure outside the bowed wall?

Answer those, and we'll see if we can narrow down the possible causes, and then I may have more questions.

Wall anchors, steel beams, carbon fiber straps are all nothing but band-aids, and just as band-aids sometimes fall off, so too do there things almost always fail to solve any problems, and that is because their installers fail to diagnose the problem before implementing a solution.

Find the problem and fix it. It's that simple.

Amen to Richard!

You have to find out and describe what you have.

I will bet you have a 8" thick foundation wall and litle water control outside and under the wall/footing.

Trying to solve problems with stuff like wall anchors and steel beams or carbon fiber straps is like trying to cure a runny nose by packing it with cotton. The symptom is being "treated" but the disease remains.

The problem with this wall is either the wall itself, or it's outside the wall, and that's where it needs to be fixed.

Thank you so much for giving me some kinds of solutions. I spoke to Insta-Dry and they told me that they were gonna speak with the "higher up officials" and get back with me. They just don't know that I am persistent and will get back with them. This is my home and I do not want the wall to get any worse that it is.

LicensedWaterproofRR is a Michigander as well, I believe, so may well have some insights. It sounds like a water issue at first reading, with the seasonal changes, but there's only so much you can tell through an online chat.

Richard is spot-on about determining the root cause before spending a lot of money applying "solutions." He is also right about that "cotton in the nose" thing. Tampons work so much better what with that handy string and all, and as an added benefit it makes it much more convenient to floss your teeth.

Boobie,

if you want some further insight on Bozo`s Big Top waterdiverting,call me,will be here most of day 313-xxx xxxx just know i`ll tell it like it is and i don`t hold back.

when these inside system co`s tell/sell HO`s ***t that do not,will not relieve-lessen exterior CAUSE(s) that weaken/deteriorate the basement wall then they should never be recommending/installing this crap in first place.Thats due to THEM,the salesperson/whoever being incompetent and....or, often because they just want to make a sale regardless of the outcome which in my honest dang opinion is fraud! Gotta watch-read these fruitcakes small print in contract/warranty and sometimes whats not in print.

By the way, if you and any other homeowners have a bowed...'wavy' block basement wall,it has cracks on the outside of the wall,oh yes it does.And these inside system companies do not waterproof those exterior cracks,nor do they relieve-lessen any exterior pressures/weights...NOPE.

Royal Oak,this exterior crack is NOT...repeat,
is not VISIBLE inside da basement.NOT because there is paneling against inside wall.MANY homeowners have different size cracks on the outside of their block walls that do not appear on the inside,thats the way it is peeps.The parging on the outside of many walls is also cracked/loose/deteriorating and ya will not EVER see this on the inside http://www2.snapfish.com/slide...122238283_111847456/

This wall is pushed in a bit...WAVY like.Thats because of several exterior weights/pressure.A 10" THICK or so concrete slab was leaning against wall AND some underground roots were against wall AND rock-hard SOIL against wall and so,the ONLY MEANS of relieving-lessening these problems is on the outside,gotta REMOVE them,NOT leave them against the wall! lol
And look at the cracks,they`re ummm,open! How in the world is it OK in the minds of some people to LEAVE these open??? J kristmas! http://www2.snapfish.com/slide...122238283_111847456/

Wall anchors etc do not remove exterior weights/causes of cracks,bowed wall,leaks! And so if abc-nitwit-waterproofing tells a homeowner they need wall anchors and-or an inside system when the problems/pressures/cracks are outside they are incompetent and need to be held accountable.

If you had a hole in the roof from a tree limb/whatever landing on roof and water,insects were coming in would ya leave the limb on the roof and leave the hole open and install some sort of vertical beam in attic in hopes of holding duh roof up and maybe install some goofy interior water diverting system to keep water from dripping on yer head? lol I don`t think so. If anyone would then they have some pretty serious mental problems

Beams installed here,would NOT matter if carbon straps etc were installed instead.Parts of walls continue to move,be pushed inward and still leaks http://www2.snapfish.com/thumb...122238283_111847456/

Armageddon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1PiJOL2cRw
2:30 'Max would like ya to bring back 8 track tapes'
3:35 'Oh say can you see'
3:55 'Oh gee lady,i just came here to drill.....Oh,so did I'
4:25 'Look,you wanna compare brain pans'
4:50 'What really drives me nuts is people that think that Jethro Tull is just a person in the band'
5:10 'can i like get a hug from you'
5:17 'Ok,cyclops lady is strating to bug me'
5:25 'Woman with.....'
5:42 'This one looks like you,with...'
5:50 'The Cubs win the World Series!'

quote:

wall anchors

Thanks T800,

Yeah I will need to put some extra washers on.

The cabling should be okay as the ports are recessed so that won't be a problem - I am going to run them through the space in between the wall.

One thing is the power lead, I know I need to run that seperate to prevent interference but where can I get a longer one form - it is just a simple 'kettle lead'.
I do not want to mess about fitting new sockets etc.

Regards...

Jimmy
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