Basement Foundation Inspection

With the basement down to the bare concrete we see there are cracks in the concrete in the 46' long south wall.  There are cracks diagonally from the corners of the window opening down to the floor and a long horizontal crack that extends half way up the whole length of the wall. The cracks have not opened up yet and the wall is still straight but the contractor recommended steel bracing as a preventative measure.   This will require a permit from the city and an engineer's report. 

Yesterday we had a  structural engineer here to inspect the cracks in our basement foundation walls.  He said the bracing is not urgent at present but in future wet clay soil expanding could be enough for the foundation to start deflecting inward.  The recommendation is for 5'' C channel steel bracing on each side of the window and at 4' centres along the south wall.  

 

The example diagram shows I beam steel bracing but the concept is the same with C channel steel bracing.  The bottom of the steel brace is cemented into holes jack-hammered into the floor and the top of the brace is bolted to the floor joist above.  Fortunately our wall is still straight and not buckled at the crack as in the diagram.      Along the wall we will have 10 or 11 of these steel braces.  I will have the engineer's report in about a week and then will submit the city permit application before having the work done.  

 
And so continues the ongoing saga of our basement renovations ....