What are Carbon Fiber Straps?

Hydrostatic pressure causes wall bowing, but not many Grand Forks homeowners notice until the wall is bowing significantly and water is leaking between the wall and floor joint. By then, the walls can only be stabilized and straightened using either wall anchors or wall braces. In the instances in which homeowners do detect wall bowing early, the wall is not bent enough to warrant wall anchors or wall braces. Still, it wouldn’t be right to simply ignore the bowing and allow the problem to get worse. Too much bowing will lead to damage to the upstairs portion of your home as well.

So, to stabilize basement walls that are bowing less than two inches forward, Innovative Basement Authority uses carbon fiber straps. Carbon fiber may look like a feeble sheet of cloth, but it’s one of the strongest materials in the world—even stronger than steel! It’s made of carbon atoms and has the highest compression strength of all the composites. Contractors first apply high-strength epoxy resin to the strap and to the wall where the strap will be placed on. Once the strap has been applied to the wall, another coat of epoxy resin is applied over the strap.

Carbon fiber straps are one of the most convenient methods of permanent wall repair. No excavation is required and the strap can be applied in mere minutes. It does not rust or peel off, nor is it capable of harboring mold. Unlike the I-beams used for wall bracing, carbon fiber straps are non-intrusive and don’t take up any space. Once the straps have been applied, you can paint over them or cover them with drywall.