Fix Bowing Foundation Walls
June 9, 2021

Bowing or leaning basement walls are a common sign of foundation failure. We will talk about the signs and symptoms that your foundation has been damaged here.

Basement walls that are tilting or bowing are dangerous, they don’t look very good and can prevent you from using valuable parts of your property.

If bowing, tilting, or leaning walls are not repaired, they could eventually collapse. So it’s important to make the necessary repairs in order to maintain your property in a safe, usable condition.

Why Your Foundation Matters?

Your foundation holds the weight of your entire home. But excess groundwater can create pressure on your foundation and cause it to shift.

Over time, these continued pressures underneath a shifting foundation can cause your foundation walls to lean or bow. This generally starts a cascade of other serious foundation problems.

What Causes Bowing Basement Walls?

The most common causes of foundation wall failure are:

  • Clay soils expand and contract as the moisture in the ground increases and decreases.
  • Hydrostatic pressure is an accumulation of water in the foundation wall’s soil that exerts pressure against the wall.
  • Frost in the soil next to the foundation can apply pressure to the wall.

Bowed Basement Wall Repair Methods

There are many options out there to fix your bowing, and leaning walls, so how do you know which one to choose?

The best solution for your situation will depend on several factors, including the location of the problem and the extent of the damage.

The KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair Helical Tie-Back System involve large, screw-like implements that are installed into the soil adjacent to the affected wall. The Tie-Backs are screwed into the soil horizontally through a small hole in the wall. Then anchors are attached to the interior of the wall, applying tension to straighten the wall and keep it from bowing in the future.

Once the installation is complete, the hole on the inside of the wall is sealed and the site is cleaned up. This process requires very little machinery which minimizes disruption to your property. Also, there is no need to wait for cement or grout to cure, so the installation process is relatively fast.

5 Advantages of Helical Tie-Back System

  • Installation can be completed in one day in any weather.
  • Can be installed even when interior access is limited.
  • Involves limited disturbance to your yard and landscaping.
  • Can strengthen your wall immediately because of the excavation.
  • Is a permanent solution!

Ready to Get Started?

The experts at KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair will thoroughly inspect your property and give you a professional evaluation and recommendation based on our experience working on more than 7,000 properties over the past 32 years. Contact us to schedule a consultation and free estimate.

Working hard in Basement Waterproofing and Foundation Repair for the residents in Northland Missouri including, Weatherby Lake, Lake Waukomis, Platte Woods, Platte City, Richmond, and more!

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Satisfied Customer Reviews

Great service, everyone is friendly and courteous. They do whatever they can to help you. Great company I would recommend to anyone.
Great team, worked very hard and stayed after hours to install a basement window as they knew a huge storm was on the way. Our basement was super dry following a lot of rain after install/fixing of foundation proving the job was done well! I recommend this company for foundation repair and water proofing to cinder block foundation in old home.
Mario came out to seal a crack on my stairs and fill a settlement crack in the basement. He was very professional and friendly. He did an amazing job and I was very impressed.
Didn't waste any time. I have a big problem and he told me from the beginning that they couldn't handle it. He helped give me some advice and direction... and did not try to sell me on something he knew they couldn't deliver. I appreciated his upfront honesty and advice.
They are a fantastic company and really went above and beyond to make sure we got the information we needed.
Mario was great! He very informative and helpful! I would highly recommend him!
Mario came out to check the sump pump. After cleaning the pit out and checking both the main and backup pump he wiped everything done and left the area cleaner than when he got there. Very friendly and knowledgeable guy!
Don Derry with KC Waterproofing has been our "go-to" foundation repair specialist since 2005! We have had him to our homes multiple times. The project always wraps up with us having peace of mind. This past time with 14 piers installed, was no exception. His crew was polite and respectful. They cleaned up our property perfectly at the conclusion of the project. I highly recommend this foundation repair company.
Tech was on time completed the repair as necessary, and the experience was great.
We recently had KC Waterproofing out at our home in North Kansas City, and I cannot say enough great things about Ryan Marshall and his team (Austin & Jacob). They worked at our property over the week of July 17/2025 - and absolutely blew us away with their professionalism, work ethic, and transparency.

Ryan took the time to thoroughly explain the problems we were facing, what caused them, and exactly how they were going to fix them. His honesty and willingness to go the extra mile truly set him apart.

Ryan and his assistant worked hard, were respectful of our home, and made sure everything was done right the first time. It's rare these days to find that level of care and craftsmanship. Because of professionals like Ryan, we’ll continue to turn to KC Waterproofing for future needs.

Highly recommend this company—especially if you get the chance to work with Ryan and his crew! When it comes to foundation issues we will always recommend KC Waterproofing. They have been in the business, are trusted, and will do the job correctly.