Retaining Wall Stability & Repair
PROTECT YOUR FOUNDATION FROM SLIDING SOIL & EROSION
Retaining walls are often so much more than decoration! Retaining walls are instrumental in keeping erosion from washing away soil and protecting buildings above and below the wall. When a retaining wall starts leaning, or soil starts escaping, it’s time to do something...fast!
A retaining wall will fail when it is unable to withstand the force created by the soil behind it. ... Water is heavy, and as it builds up in the soil behind the wall the force on the wall dramatically increases. At some point, that force may exceed the capacity of the wall and cause the wall to fail.
Installing Spartan Ram Jack’s helical piles is an excellent way to secure a weakened retaining wall. With screw-like discs on one end, the piles can be driven deep into previously undisturbed soil. Specialized brackets are used to attach the piles to the wall, which are driven at varying heights across the span to ensure maximum stabilization. A braced wall can continue to hold back soil for years to come!
In some situations, adding drain tile behind the wall to capture and remove excess water is advisable.
If you have a concern about a retaining wall...big or small...give Spartan Ram Jack a call today! (816) 307-1036
Carbon Fiber Support
If your basement wall starts bowing or has some major cracks, you want peace of mind that the repair you chose will stabilize your home for years to come. Steel I-beams are a well-known repair for this type of issue, but sometimes they aren’t the best choice. Anotherproven solution is Carbon Fiber Straps!
Spartan Ram Jack’s Carbon Fiber Straps are a specialized combination of Kevlar and carbon screen. These two components are woven together to create a strong mesh which can be installed directly to the damaged wall. The best part is, Carbon Fiber Straps are much more flexible than steel I-beams. They can be placed in tight locations, such as under a stairwell, or on walls where floor joists are not available to support I-beams.
If you need to paint over the carbon fiber straps to achieve a smooth clean look, you can do so without any worries. The straps and strips provide a surface that can be treated just as your walls. No special preparation is required.
The Pros of Carbon Fiber for Foundation Repair:
- Quick Installation – The installation process for carbon fiber is very simple: the area of the wall where the strip will go is ground flat and a bed of high-strength epoxy is applied. The carbon fiber strip is embedded into this under pressure and the steel angle is bolted to the top. Depending on the size of the wall, carbon fiber repairs can be done in a day.
- Incredible Strength – Carbon fiber is a super strong material that is even being used in the construction of commercial aircraft. It cannot break and the fibers do not stretch so when properly applied the wall repairs are permanent.
- Low Visibility — When the carbon fiber strip has been applied to the wall, it shows up as only a small bump on the wall, a fraction of an inch thick. It can be painted over, which makes it nearly disappear, and a normal stud wall can be constructed over it if the basement is to be finished.
- No Maintenance – When the carbon fiber repair is finished, it requires no further attention from the homeowner – or anyone.
If you are seeing damage to your foundation or would like to learn more about Carbon Fiber Straps, give us a call today at (816) 307-1036.
We are backed by an international network of over 50 other Ram Jack locations. Our focus is on the Metro Kansas City area, including Lenexa, Overland Park, Kansas City, Leavenworth, Leawood, Merriam, Mission Hills, Mission, Prairie Village, Shawnee, and Olathe in Kansas and Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Belton, Blue Springs, Excelsior Springs, Gladstone, Liberty, Parkville, Platte City, Grandview, Raytown, and Independence in Missouri.