How Are Wall Anchors Installed?

When a basement wall is up against hydrostatic pressure, it needs to exert just as much force against the groundwater in order to stop bowing. This isn’t something basements can do on their own, so wall anchors are needed to stabilize the wall. First, contractors determine where each earth anchor needs to be installed. Holes are excavated outside and the anchors are put into place. Once everything is set, the excavated hole is filled back up and your yard looks untampered with.

Inside, holes are drilled into the bowing basement wall and steel rods are pushed through until they are attached to the earth anchors outside. A bit of the rod pokes through the hole, and this bit is used to secure steel plates against the wall. The plates are bolted to the walls and as the bolts tighten, it creates enough pressure to stabilize the wall. Over time, the bolts can be tightened even further so that the wall can be straightened as well. This needs to be done slowly sometimes because you don’t want to compromise the already weak concrete, so it’s best to tighten the bolt over time.

The reason wall anchors work is because of the same reason helical and push piers work for settling foundations. The anchors and rods are placed in deep, load bearing soils capable of holding the anchor down while the plates, bolts, and rods work together to apply pressure against the wall. Every component used for the wall anchor system is made of solid, galvanized steel, so you won’t have to worry about rust. Wall anchors are a permanent solution to basement wall bowing and once they are installed, they will stay there for as long as they need to be there. Because the plates take up zero space on the walls, you can finish your basement and add drywall knowing that the wall is protected.