Wall repair system and method

Abstract

A basement wall repair system and method employs columns mounted vertically across the failed section of the wall. The columns are mounted at their top ends to the sill plate and the ceiling members, or joists, of the building and at their bottom ends to the building floor. An angle is installed on the side of the sill plate along the length of the sill plate. A threaded member is installed on the angle at each point at which a column will be mounted. Each column has an opening through which a threaded member is inserted. A nut is threaded onto the end of the threaded member and tightened against the column to cause the column to exert force against the failed section of the wall to stabilize the wall. The earth outside the wall can be excavated upon installation of the system to allow tightening of the nut until the wall is at or nearly at its original position. Shelving can be provided, if desired, on the columns.

1 . A system for repairing a bowed section of a wall comprising: 
 at least one stabilizing member mounted across the bowed section of the wall; and    an adjuster that can be manipulated to cause said stabilizing member to exert force on the bowed section.    
   
   
       2 . The system recited by  claim 1  wherein said stabilizing member is a column.  
   
   
       3 . The system recited by  claim 1  wherein said stabilizing member is oriented substantially vertically.  
   
   
       4 . The system recited by  claim 2  wherein said column is mounted at one end to a support above the wall and at the remaining end to a floor.  
   
   
       5 . The system recited by  claim 2  wherein said adjuster can be manipulated to move on end of said column toward the wall to cause the column to exert force on the bowed section of the wall.  
   
   
       6 . A system for repairing a bowed section of a wall comprising: 
 a column that is mounted at its top end to a support above the wall and at its bottom end to the floor of a building; and    an adjuster that can be manipulated to move said top end of said column toward the wall to cause said column to exert force against the bowed section of the wall.    
   
   
       7 . The system recited by  claim 6  wherein said adjuster is a threaded member onto which an adjusting member has been threaded.  
   
   
       8 . The system recited by  claim 7  wherein said adjusting member is a nut.  
   
   
       9 . The system recited by  claim 8  further comprising shelving mounted to said columns.  
   
   
       10 . A system for repairing a bowed section of a building foundation wall comprising: 
 an angle mounted to the sill plate of the building;    at least one column mounted at its top end to said angle and at its bottom end to the floor;    a threaded member mounted to said angle, said top end of said column being slidably mounted to one end of said threaded member; and    an adjusting member that is threaded onto said end of said threaded member, said adjusting member being adapted to be threaded against said top end of said column to cause said column to exert force against the bowed section.    
   
   
       11 . The system recited by  claim 10  wherein said adjusting member is a nut.  
   
   
       12 . The system recited by  claim 11  further comprising shelving mounted to said column.  
   
   
       13 . A method for repairing a bowed section of a wall comprising the steps of: 
 installing at least one stabilizing member across the bowed section of the wall;    installing an adjuster that can be manipulated to cause said stabilizing member to exert force on the bowed section, and    manipulating said adjuster to cause said stabilizing member to exert force on the bowed section.    
   
   
       14 . The method recited by  claim 13  wherein said stabilizing member is a column.  
   
   
       15 . The method recited by  claim 13  wherein said stabilizing member is oriented substantially vertically.  
   
   
       16 . The method recited by  claim 14  wherein said column is mounted at one end to a support above the wall and at the remaining end to a floor.  
   
   
       17 . The method recited by  claim 14  wherein said adjuster can be manipulated to move on end of said column toward the wall to cause the column to exert force on the bowed section of the wall.  
   
   
       18 . A method for repairing a bowed section of a wall comprising the steps of: 
 installing a column at its top end to a support above the wall and at its bottom end to the floor of a building;    installing an adjuster that can be manipulated to move said top end of said column toward the wall to cause said column to exert force against the bowed section of the wall; and    manipulating said adjuster to move said top end of said column toward the wall to cause said column to exert force against the bowed section of the wall.    
   
   
       19 . The method recited by  claim 18  wherein said adjuster is a threaded member onto which an adjusting member has been threaded.  
   
   
       20 . The method recited by  claim 19  wherein said adjusting member is a nut.  
   
   
       21 . The method recited by  claim 20  further comprising the step of installing shelving to said columns.  
   
   
       22 . A method for repairing a bowed section of a building foundation wall comprising the steps of: 
 mounting an angle to the sill plate of the building;    mounting at least one column at its top end to said angle and at its bottom end to the floor;    mounting a threaded member to said angle, said top end of said column being slidably mounted to one end of said threaded member;    threading an adjusting member onto said end of said threaded member, said adjusting member being adapted to be threaded against said top end of said column to cause said column to exert force against the bowed section; and    threading said adjusting member onto said end of said threaded member to cause said column to exert force against the bowed section.    
   
   
       23 . The method recited by  claim 22  wherein said adjusting member is a nut.  
   
   
       24 . The method recited by  claim 23  further comprising the step of mounting shelving to said column.