Carbon fiber reinforcement
Carbon Fiber Wall Reinforcement
Carbon fiber straps reinforce bowing, leaning, or cracked basement walls from the inside. They’re thin, strong, and installed without digging.
- Led by Joe Saunders, PE
- Free inspections
- Kanawha, Putnam & nearby counties
What carbon fiber reinforcement does
Carbon fiber is a high-strength material that’s also used in bridge and infrastructure repair. Bonded to a basement wall with structural epoxy, carbon fiber straps add strength to the wall so it can resist the soil pushing on it.
For Joe Saunders, PE, carbon fiber was a natural fit. After 25 years of bridge and structural consulting, he started MCA Foundations to install carbon fiber foundation repairs.
When it’s the right fit
- Block walls with horizontal or stair-step cracks from soil pressure
- Poured walls with cracks that need strength across them
- Walls that are bowing inward but are still within a range that can be stabilized
- Basements where you want a slim repair that can be finished over or painted
How it’s installed
Installation is done from inside the basement, with no excavation outside.
- We inspect the wall and decide on strap spacing and placement
- The wall surface is prepared so the epoxy bonds to sound material
- Straps are bonded to the wall with structural epoxy
- Where needed, straps are anchored at the top and bottom of the wall
- Cracks between straps can be repaired as part of the job
Why it suits older WV basements
Many homes around Charleston, Cross Lanes, and Nitro have block basements that have been under pressure from clay soil and hillside runoff for decades. Carbon fiber lets those walls be reinforced from inside without heavy equipment in the yard. We still look at drainage, because taking water pressure off the wall helps any repair do its job.
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Other ways we can help
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can carbon fiber straps straighten a bowed wall?
Carbon fiber is used to stabilize a wall where it is. Walls that have moved too far may need a different repair, which the inspection will tell you.
Can I finish my basement after the straps are installed?
Straps are thin and can be painted. Talk with us about finishing plans before you build over them.
Is there digging involved?
No. Carbon fiber reinforcement is installed from inside the basement.
Got a big, scary quote? Get a free second opinion.
An honest engineering review led by Joe Saunders, PE, at no charge and with no obligation.
Request a free inspection
Tell us what you’re seeing and we’ll follow up to set up a visit. Photos of the cracks or problem areas help.
- Free inspection and second opinion
- Led by Joe Saunders, PE
- No pressure, no obligation
Prefer to talk? Call or text 304-767-8623 or email info@mcawva.com.