ANOTHER QUALITY BASEMENT WALL REPLACEMENT
This was a basement wall that was falling in the owner's basement. It was due to several factors. I analyzed the basement and ground and came to many conclusions.
The main factor was poor masonry that couldn't withstand any typical hydrostatic water pressure.
MAIN ISSUES
There were many other issues also.
1.) The cement that was used by the previous mason was a poor mixture and was not very strong as you will see the blocks falling apart.
2.) There were no vertical rebar that is required per code today, and when this was built. There should of been lateral durwall also.
3.) Poor grading that was back-pitched toward the home.
4.) There were no gutters on this side of the home.
5.) Storm pipes that the gutters and crocks were tied into were cracked and were forcing water directly to basement.
6.) After removing the old soil, we found massive rocks and a clay soil, which is a disastrous mix for any backfill.
We once again successfully tackled this project, used high-strength construction methods, and corrected all the main issues
See below the pics of what we used to reconstruct this wall.
The main factor was poor masonry that couldn't withstand any typical hydrostatic water pressure.
MAIN ISSUES
There were many other issues also.
1.) The cement that was used by the previous mason was a poor mixture and was not very strong as you will see the blocks falling apart.
2.) There were no vertical rebar that is required per code today, and when this was built. There should of been lateral durwall also.
3.) Poor grading that was back-pitched toward the home.
4.) There were no gutters on this side of the home.
5.) Storm pipes that the gutters and crocks were tied into were cracked and were forcing water directly to basement.
6.) After removing the old soil, we found massive rocks and a clay soil, which is a disastrous mix for any backfill.
We once again successfully tackled this project, used high-strength construction methods, and corrected all the main issues
See below the pics of what we used to reconstruct this wall.
Our basement reconstruction
As you can see this was a very wet site due to clay ground and the rainy season.
Reconstruction process for this job.
1. ) We structurally jacked home slightly above where is should be and supported basement with steel columns and 4x4 posts. The floor joists on this home ran parallel to the basement so it was very secure even if we installed a few. We take no chances and use many posts in strategic areas.
2.)We took all the 3-6' of old backfill soil and rocks and hauled it away.
3.) Next we took down the main problem walls ,hauled them away and left a "step tooth in method" to connect new wall. (also pinned with rebar and poured concrete.
4.) Then we core drilled and epoxied vertical rebar every 2-3' O/C .
5. ) We replaced the block , installed durwall lateral steel every 2 courses and tied in all the ends.
6.) We poured the walls solid using #4000 psi concrete from a conveyor truck.
7.) Following all that we parged the walls with Conproco (a wall waterproofing membrane) and cove the bottom per code.
8.) We installed a drain system that tied to the interior drain tile system.
9.) We then re piped all the gutters and routed them differently for proper gutter water drainage.
10.) Inspector was called for the final (3 of 3) inspections and approved for backfill.
11.) Bracing was set inside basement for wall support for the backfill.
12). We ordered "blow sand" for the backfill which is a light compaction soil especially for high water ground saturation areas, we followed by 2-3" topsoil.
13.) Cap for walkout was then poured using a high strength concrete and fibers.
14.) Original Bilco door was set (per homeowner) Yard was then properly graded and for seeding. (Yard access was limited on this site)
1. ) We structurally jacked home slightly above where is should be and supported basement with steel columns and 4x4 posts. The floor joists on this home ran parallel to the basement so it was very secure even if we installed a few. We take no chances and use many posts in strategic areas.
2.)We took all the 3-6' of old backfill soil and rocks and hauled it away.
3.) Next we took down the main problem walls ,hauled them away and left a "step tooth in method" to connect new wall. (also pinned with rebar and poured concrete.
4.) Then we core drilled and epoxied vertical rebar every 2-3' O/C .
5. ) We replaced the block , installed durwall lateral steel every 2 courses and tied in all the ends.
6.) We poured the walls solid using #4000 psi concrete from a conveyor truck.
7.) Following all that we parged the walls with Conproco (a wall waterproofing membrane) and cove the bottom per code.
8.) We installed a drain system that tied to the interior drain tile system.
9.) We then re piped all the gutters and routed them differently for proper gutter water drainage.
10.) Inspector was called for the final (3 of 3) inspections and approved for backfill.
11.) Bracing was set inside basement for wall support for the backfill.
12). We ordered "blow sand" for the backfill which is a light compaction soil especially for high water ground saturation areas, we followed by 2-3" topsoil.
13.) Cap for walkout was then poured using a high strength concrete and fibers.
14.) Original Bilco door was set (per homeowner) Yard was then properly graded and for seeding. (Yard access was limited on this site)
