A bowing basement wall is a serious sign that you need foundation repair. The average cost to repair bowing basement walls is between $75 and $400 per linear foot. For a typical wall, that means your total price will typically be between $2,000 and $7,500.
Luckily, you have options for repairing basement walls and solving foundation problems. Several factors are involved in this process, and the stabilization of the concrete foundation is a significant factor to consider before the walls can be cosmetically or structurally repaired. Bowing basement wall repair costs can vary based on factors like the type of soil around your foundation wall, the severity of the bowing, the repair option you choose, and more.
Wall anchors are the most affordable option, followed by steel or carbon fiber straps and helical tiebacks. Wall straightening is the most expensive way to fix a bowing basement wall. When planning for the cost of fixing a bowing basement wall, you should also factor in things like permits, inspections or reports, and labor. You may also have to pay extra for drywall and painting, though these are the only parts of the process we recommend doing on your own if you’re on a budget and want to save.
Let’s examine the specifics of what to expect regarding this foundation repair cost and help you find a solution for bowing basement walls and your home’s foundation.
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How Much Does it Cost To Repair Bowed Basement Walls?
Most homeowners will spend an average of between $75 and $400 per foot to repair bowing basement walls. However, the concrete foundation is a significant factor to consider before you can cosmetically or structurally repair the walls.
Bowing basement wall repair costs are affected by the type of soil around your foundation wall and the severity of the bowing, but above all, the repair option you choose can dramatically affect the price. Here are some basic estimates of the cost per foot repair for your bowed basement walls.
| Brace Type | Cost Per Foot |
| Wall Anchors | $80 to $150 |
| Steel/Carbon Fiber Straps | $85 to $275 |
| Helical Tiebacks | $300 to $360 |
| Wall Straightening | $335 to $550 |
Cost Breakdowns for Bowing Basement Walls
In each area of the country, contractors will offer services for bowing basement walls. Some of these contractors will handle the entire process from start to finish, quoting you a lump sum price. Others, however, will only handle the labor, and the permitting and structural engineer costs will add to it. Understanding the different parts of bowing basement wall costs can help you accurately estimate the total cost of this project.
Code, Permits, and Safety Considerations
As we mentioned, most contractors include permits and code regulation costs in the total cost of their project. However, you can expect that the permit to complete this project will cost several hundred dollars, especially if digging is involved.
In addition to bowing, if you are seeing horizontal cracks or vertical cracks in the foundation walls, then a more permanent solution or foundation repair is likely necessary. Sometimes bracing the bowing wall won’t be enough.
Inspection and Report from a Structural Engineer
We don’t recommend any work to a home’s foundation without a structural engineer’s report. A simple bowing wall may be a more severe sign of a sinking foundation or other large-scale issue, and a larger fix may be necessary.
A structural engineer’s inspection and report are likely to cost between $300 and $1,000, depending on your location and the firm you hire.
Labor
Since correcting this process could take a few days, many contractors charge by the supplies and the day, not by the hour. We don’t recommend entering into a contract that charges per hour for your bowing basement wall.
Instead, look for the labor costs to be given to you by foot. The helical tiebacks and wall straightening will be your most expensive labor, costing over $500 a foot in some situations.
Materials, Parts, and Components of the Braces
The materials used for your bowing basement wall repair will depend on the type of repair you do. Here are the four most common options and the pricing associated with each. Remember that in some situations, you won’t have a choice as to which one to use; the condition of the wall will make this decision for you.
Wall Anchors
A wall anchor consists of a steel plate on the inside of your basement wall and one installed on the outside in the ground. There is then a steel shaft that is placed through the wall, and it is tightened to help secure the bowing basement wall.
Wall anchors have an average price between $80 and $150 per foot, and they typically need to be placed every 5 feet. This type of wall plate is a good solution for those with less than 2 inches of bowing of the basement wall. The national average for installing wall anchors will also vary based on your location and labor costs in the area.
Steel/Carbon Fiber Straps
A foundation repair contractor may also recommend using fiber straps instead of a wall anchor. The straps are made from steel or carbon fiber and range from $85 to $275 per foot. They are anchored at the top and bottom of the wall, and the general recommendation is that they be installed every four feet.
When installing wall anchors and fiber straps, it’s important to consider issues like a foundation leak and basement waterproofing solutions. Completing this project will likely be more extensive than just installing a strap on the concrete slab.
Helical Tiebacks
The helical tiebacks are used for a bit more of a durable and long-term solution. These helical tiebacks are often used to fix issues where bowing is more than 2 inches. This is a screw-like shaft drilled through your foundation wall and into the soil on the outside of the home. The helical tiebacks are carefully adjusted and twisted to achieve a certain amount of torque that helps to improve the bowing in the basement walls. These usually cost between $300 and $360 per foot.
This is a unique process, and the service area is sometimes limited. In addition, the extent of the damage that you already have in place could impact the total cost of this project. We recommend installing helical tiebacks every 5 feet to prevent further foundation crack repair costs.
Wall Straightening ($335 to $550 per foot)
Wall straightening seems like the ultimate goal from the start of this project. However, until you consider hydraulic piers, steel rods, support joists, or some other type of repair method, it’s not possible to work on the wall straightening aspect. In fact, in some situations, wall straightening is not even part of this; homeowners simply support the bowing wall and prevent further damage but leave the wall bowed.
As the wall straightening process requires additional labor and that carbon or steel fiber straps be installed first, expect the cost to be $335 to $550 per foot. For some homeowners with minor cracks and bowing along an entire foundation wall, these costs can quickly reach the $10,000 range.
Wall Painting and Drywall Installation
Sometimes wall painting and drywall installation will be included in the total cost of your project; other times, they are additional. Drywall costs are usually around $2 per square foot, and painting can range from $2 to $8 per square foot.
While you are considering wall painting and drywall installation on the inside, remember that there may be landscaping damage on the outside of the home. If significant digging was done for some of these foundation repair fixes, you might have to factor in the cost for replacing plants and grass.
Additional Costs for Bowling Basement Wall Bowing Repairs
Now that you have a more general idea as to how much the bowing basement wall will cost to repair, it’s important to learn the impact that your decisions and situation can make on the total price. There are some things you will have control of, like choosing a certain contractor, and others that you will be more limited on. Here are some of the things to consider.
Type of Bowing Repair
The type of bowing repair chosen will have a major impact on the project’s cost. Something like helical piers, additional underpinning, or mud jacking will significantly increase the cost of the project. Wall anchors are the most affordable solution, but they aren’t secured with epoxy the way carbon straps are to create a more long-term solution.
If you have the choice and want to keep the costs of your home improvement project down, the wall anchors will be the best choice. As a side note, it makes sense to call a contractor about any type of damage or structural problems at the very first sign, or else the total costs could go up because the cheaper options are no longer viable solutions.
The Deflection of the Bowing
How much is your wall bowing? In most situations, the range is around 0 to 2 inches for a more affordable and easier repair. If the bowing extends beyond the 2-inch range and is closer to 4 inches, expect that your total out-of-pocket costs will be considerably higher.
A structural engineer will also explain that there are inward and outward bowing issues, and each will need to be dealt with uniquely.
Exterior Wall Condition and Accessibility
The condition of your exterior wall will affect the total cost of repair. If the wall is strong and accessible, there should be minimal additional costs. However, in some areas, the soil is more like expansive clay and access to the foundation walls is complicated. In these situations, it’s essential to expect higher costs.
Size of the Bowed Wall
As you noticed, the majority of bowing basement wall repair costs are calculated as a price per foot. The size of the bowed wall will typically be at least 10 feet long, so you can multiply each of those numbers by ten. If the bowing expands one of the large walls of the foundation, expect an even greater out-of-pocket cost.
Costs to Repair Bowing Basement Walls: DIY Vs. Professional
With the relatively high costs of repairing a bowing basement wall, you may be tempted to fix the problem yourself. However, structural issues present a massive undertaking that most homeowners aren’t ready to take on.
To test hydrostatic pressure, you’ll need expensive and specialized equipment, such as jacks and machines, which you probably don’t have sitting around the house.
Start With a Professional, Finish With DIY
Our recommendation is to skip the DIY for the main repair and instead save some money on the final steps of this process, like drywall and repainting.
Save the installation and repair of the wall for the professionals. This isn’t something that you can put a Band-Aid on and hope that it will get better. The installation and repair of any bowing basement wall is a major process and will require a professional.
Professional painting costs can be between $2 and $7 per square foot. If you decide to do it yourself, you can completely avoid these costs and save a few hundred dollars.
Drywall costs around $2 to $5 per square foot to install. You can save on this by doing it yourself. You’ll need a friend to help you complete this process, as someone typically needs to hold the drywall in place while another secures it. It’s important to also consider the tape and spackle costs that will be necessary to smooth the wall.
Related reading: How Much Does It Cost To Raise a House?
So, What Should You Expect for Bowing Basement Wall Repair Costs?
A bowing basement wall is an unfortunate problem to have and one that will likely cost you several thousand dollars to fix. The key takeaway here is to get in touch with a contractor as soon as possible, as your options will be much more extensive if you have just a few inches in bowing.
We recommend hiring a professional for most of the main work, but you can save a bit of money by completing the drywall and painting on your own. Do everything you can to protect your foundation by having a solid drainage system in place that prevents bowing from starting in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to fix bowing basement walls?
Two of the best and most affordable ways to fix bowing basement walls are wall anchors and steel or carbon fiber straps. These solutions don’t need nearly as much major digging or engineering to fix, but they are typically saved for the less extensive basement wall repairs.
Still, it’s best to hire a professional to do this work. It can be complicated and require heavy machinery, so DIY isn’t the best plan.
What causes a bowed basement wall?
Foundation issues and sometimes even structural damage causes basement walls to bow.
One of the most common areas where you’ll see a bowed basement wall is where water is coming down from the ground level. If you have downspouts that aren’t pushing water away from the house and instead having it flow towards the house, expect some bowing in the walls.
Prevent bowing basement walls and foundation issues with a proper drainage system that directs water away from the home.
Should you buy a house with bowing walls?
Houses with bowing walls won’t pass the home inspection phase. If you purchase a house with bowed walls, try to get the seller to finance some of the costs of the repair.
The problem for many homeowners is that the extent of the damage is hard to see until repairs have begun, typically after the deal has closed.
How many inches of bowing in a wall is too much?
In most cases, bowing beyond 4 inches is a major issue that could mean a serious foundational repair needs to be completed. However, you have many options for fixing bowing under you can fix bowing under 2 inches.
Can you fix a bowed basement wall without digging?
A solution like carbon fiber straps doesn’t require digging and can therefore be used to repair the foundation without having to excavate. This makes the straps a popular solution for many homeowners.
