BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Clay tile wall replacement

Des Moines IA, May 10,2012

Here at Midwest Basement Systems we are called upon all the time to look at problems with walls made of clay tile (red clay blocks, for those not familiar with the term). Clay tile blocks present different problems than other types of walls because the webbing inside them is horizontal instead of vertical like a regular concrete block.

When wall shear is present on a clay tile wall (wall shear is when hydrostatic pressure from the out side has pushed the wall in at the bottom), and the face of the block has broken, rest assured the inside the block has also collapsed leaving the entire wall structurally at risk. The only way to properly address this type of situation is to remove and replace the wall. Niether beams nor helical tiebacks will solve the problem because of the danger that the wall will collapse on itself and fall down rather then just being pushed in by the ground behind it. 

Once the webbing inside the clay block has been compromised it is just a matter of time until the wall will be laying on the floor, especially after a good hard rain when the ground is saturated and very heavy (the reason the wall sheared to begin with).  Areas that are at risk are those areas recently experiencing hard rain fall. 

Don't take chances with your single largest investment, your home. If your foundation walls are broken and bowing, call the professionels at Midwest Basement Systems for a free foundation inspection.