Foundation Wall Shearing

The pictures below show examples of a structural problem.   There is small horizontal crack in the middle of this block wall, but the more critical problem is the shearing between the first and second course near the basement floor level.  The first photo is zoomed in on this area for a closer look, and you can see a shadow on the first course of block where the second block has shifted over the top of the first.   This is again caused by hydrostatic pressure on the outside of the basement foundation, and requires stabilization.   Shearing occurs when the pressure is so great, that the mortar bond between the first and second course breaks, and causes the second course of block to slide into the basement.  The first course stays locked into place because half of the block is usually buried under the concrete floor.  If this continues to slide, the wall may need to eventually be removed and rebuilt.   

How do we fix it?

If the shearing is discovered early on like this example, the wall can be waterproofed to take away some pressure, and reinforced with concrete or rebar, steel beams or carbon fiber strips.

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