Wall Armor Carbon Fiber
6" 670GSM bi-directional straps + high-strength epoxy. Stops movement permanently without bulk on finished walls.
Foundation Cracks and Bowing Walls
Exclusive, factory‑direct Wall Armor Carbon Fiber, code‑compliant steel beams, adjustable Spartan beams for straightening, and full rebuilds when required.
Locally Owned
Lifetime Warranty
5-Star Rated in Ohio, Columbus
Foundation Cracks & Bowing Walls — How Spartan Fixes It
One of Spartan’s specialties is reinforcing and fixing foundation walls. We have various methods and products that can fix your foundation movement permanently. We are the exclusive, factory-direct carbon fiber installer of Wall Armor Carbon Fiber — the strongest carbon fiber system on the market. We also install tried-and-true steel beam reinforcements and will determine which solution is best for your home. We can even straighten your walls over time with adjustable systems or straighten them in one day by digging and pushing the wall back to plumb. In the worst cases, Spartan is one of the only companies well-versed in masonry block and will completely rebuild your foundation from the ground up. Each home receives a custom approach, and our inspectors will evaluate, educate, and present all of your options for repair. Understanding why foundation walls move is paramount to understanding why our solutions work every time — and forever.
The effects of soil pressure on foundation walls in Columbus, Ohio, are primarily driven by the region’s prevalent clay soil and its interaction with water. Unlike sandy soils that allow water to drain away, clay soil absorbs water and expands. This process, combined with the city’s climate, creates significant pressure on foundation walls.
- Expansive Clay and Hydrostatic Pressure: Columbus’s clay-rich soil expands when it gets wet, exerting immense lateral (inward) pressure on foundation walls. When heavy rain saturates the ground, the water builds up against the foundation, creating what is known as hydrostatic pressure. This force can be strong enough to cause walls to crack, bow, or even buckle inward.
- Frost Heave: Columbus experiences freeze-thaw cycles in the winter. As water in the soil freezes, it expands and exerts force on the foundation—a process called frost heave. When the ground thaws, the soil contracts, which can lead to gaps and shifts in the foundation over time.
- Shrink-Swell Cycle: The constant change in moisture content in clay soil—swelling when wet and shrinking when dry—creates a continuous “push-and-pull” effect on the foundation. This cyclical movement can lead to foundation settlement, causing problems like stair-step cracks in brickwork, uneven floors, and windows and doors that stick.
- Increased Risk of Water Damage: Cracks caused by soil pressure and movement are prime entry points for water. This can lead to basement flooding, mold and mildew, and eventually rot and decay of the home’s wooden structure.
Reinforcement Systems
Steel Beams
Vertical I-beams to Columbus code, anchored at slab & joists to resist lateral soil pressure.
Adjustable Spartan Beams
Engineered bracing that can push walls >2" back toward plumb over time.
Wall Armor Carbon Fiber Reinforcements
Wall Armor is a 6” wide, 670GSM bi-directional carbon fiber. Wall Armor dwarfs the competition in terms of strength. The heavy-duty fabric can be installed vertical, horizontal, or even diagonally and will not lose strength due to its bi-directional weave. Our custom two-part, high-strength epoxy is also at the top of the industry in terms of break strength and adhesion. The Wall Armor product is combined with years of experience and professional installation techniques that make this the strongest carbon fiber system on the market, all while giving you, the customer, factory-direct pricing that can’t be beat.
How Carbon Fiber Works:
Carbon fiber reinforces foundation walls by acting as a strong, non-stretching tension material that counteracts the outward pressure from the soil. Foundation walls often crack or bow inward due to hydrostatic pressure from water-saturated soil. Carbon fiber straps or sheets are bonded directly to the interior surface of the wall using a high-strength epoxy. This creates a powerful composite that prevents any further movement of the wall.
How It Works: The Mechanics of Reinforcement
The process is similar to how rebar reinforces concrete, but in this case, the reinforcement is applied to the outside of the existing structure. When the soil exerts pressure on the foundation wall, the force is transferred to the carbon fiber straps, which have an incredibly high tensile strength—often cited as being stronger than steel. Because the carbon fiber cannot stretch or expand, it holds the wall in its current position and stops the bowing process.
Steel Beam Reinforcements
Steel beams reinforce foundation walls by acting as a strong, vertical brace that counteracts the lateral pressure exerted by the surrounding soil. We always install steel beams to abide by Columbus, OH building codes and guarantee our steel beams for the lifetime of the home.
• Vertical Installation: The steel beams are placed vertically against the interior of the bowing or cracked foundation wall, typically spaced every four to six feet.
• Anchoring: The bottom of each beam is securely anchored into the basement floor, often by breaking out a section of concrete and embedding the beam in new concrete. The top of the beam is then attached to the home’s floor joists above, creating a rigid connection between the wall, the floor, and the home’s structure.
• Pressure Resistance: When the soil outside the foundation wall expands and pushes inward, the pressure is transferred to the unyielding steel beams. Because of their immense strength and rigidity, the beams hold the wall in its correct position and prevent any further inward movement.
Adjustable Steel Beams (Spartan Beams)
Spartan beams utilize a customizable steel bracing system in conjunction with our standard steel beams that can push your foundation walls back to straight. Our inspectors will show you the details of this process and let you know if this is a good option for your home. We have pushed walls bowed over 2” back to straight using our Spartan Beam system.
Lifetime Warranty
Transferrable coverage for all carbon fiber & steel wall systems.
5-Star Service
Local, licensed, insured — trusted in Columbus, OH.
Factory-Direct Systems
Interior & exterior Wall Armor carbon fiber solutions.
The Spartan Process
01
Free Inspection
Measure bow, cracks & water entry.
02
Engineering & Code
Soil, load paths, Columbus code.
03
Custom Design
Carbon fiber, steel, straightening or rebuild.
04
Pro Installation
Clean, efficient, code-compliant work.
05
Test & Warranty
Verification & lifetime coverage.
Schedule Your Free Foundation Inspection
Fast response. No pressure. Serving Columbus, OH.
- ✓ Same/next-day callbacks
- ✓ Lifetime warranty eligible
- ✓ Licensed & insured
- ✓ Wall Armor factory‑direct carbon fiber
- ✓ Full masonry rebuilds when required
Locally Owned
Lifetime Warranty
5-Star Rated in Ohio, Columbus
Cracked & Bowing Walls — FAQ
Is carbon fiber just tape?▾
No. Wall Armor is a 6″ 670GSM bi-directional carbon fiber system bonded with high-strength epoxy. It creates a structural composite that
prevents further movement and is ideal behind finished walls.
When do you recommend steel I-beams instead of carbon?▾
When there is visible inward bowing or active displacement that needs rigid bracing per code. Our beams are anchored at the slab and joists
and installed to Columbus building requirements.
Can you straighten a bowed wall back toward plumb?▾
Yes. Our Adjustable Spartan Beams can gradually recover wall position over time. In severe cases we can perform a dig-and-push to set the wall
back to plumb in a single project.
What causes cracks and bowing in Columbus, OH?▾
Clay soils absorb water and expand, creating hydrostatic pressure. Freeze-thaw and seasonal shrink-swell cycles add stress, leading to
horizontal or stair-step cracks, bowing, tilting, and water entry.
Do you pull permits and provide a warranty?▾
Absolutely. We follow local code, handle permitting when required, and provide a transferable lifetime warranty on our reinforcement systems.
When is a full foundation wall rebuild necessary?▾
When masonry has lost structural capacity (crushing, separation, severe displacement). Spartan performs complete foundation wall rebuilds with
proper drainage and long-term protection.