Reinforcing Bowed Brick Foundation Walls with Fortress Carbon/Kevlar Straps

Stabilizing Bowed Brick Foundation Walls with Fortress Carbon/Kevlar® Straps

The Challenge

An older home was experiencing bowing brick foundation walls, threatening the structural stability of the property. The walls were coated with lead paint, presenting health and safety risks during surface preparation for reinforcement.

The Solution

To safely prepare the walls, contractors used a HEPA filtration grinding system to remove the lead paint while running a second HEPA vacuum to capture any escaped dust. The walls were then ground flush to allow proper bonding of the Fortress Carbon/Kevlar® straps. On the back wall, tuckpointing was completed and a hydraulic cement parge coat applied to level mortar joints before strap installation.

The Outcome

The bowed brick foundation walls were permanently stabilized using Fortress Carbon/Kevlar® straps. The meticulous preparation ensured safe lead paint removal and optimal surface bonding, restoring the structural integrity of the home.

Why It Matters

Brick foundations pose unique challenges with old paint, fired clay, and uneven mortar joints. Fortress Carbon/Kevlar® straps provide a high-strength, non-corrosive reinforcement system ideal for restoring historic masonry walls while ensuring safe, code-compliant installation practices.