"John and Miles were excellent workers. They were very polite and professional. The job they did supporting my sagging basement wall looks like it should take care of the problem. They placed steel plates against the basement wall, and also buried other ones out in the yard, and connected them with steel rods. Then they torqued them, which should prevent any further sagging of the wall."
The longevity of flood walls depends on how they were constructed, but most wood, gravel, and cement flood walls last 10 years. While aluminum flood walls may cost far more initially, they can be a good investment as they can last decades and will not be damaged by exposure to the elements.
With proper installation and sealing, both poured concrete and cinder block walls can be durable options for your yard or home. Poured concrete walls do offer more durability and strength, but cinder block walls are less expensive to build and DIY. A concrete wall costs an average of $6,500.
Newly poured concrete is prone to small, fine cracks within the first 30 days of installation, but most noticeable cracks will disappear within that time frame. If a crack is greater than 1 inch, consider contacting the person who installed your wall to inspect the job.
If you've decided you'd like to skip the cost of restoring a brick exterior wall after considering whether you should repair or replace brick on your house, you can consider installing fiber cement siding over brick for a cost of $2 to $6 per square foot. When done properly, cement siding over brick offers a durable, low-maintenance option that can actually reduce your home's energy costs. It's also attractive. However, improper installation or installation over heavily compromised brick can cause water damage.
Yes, you can pour concrete if it rained the day before, but you’ll need to drain the construction site to ensure there isn’t standing water where your slab will sit. You might need to manually remove any puddles and set up drainage on your site to dry it before pouring. Moist soil won’t be an issue, but standing water will throw off your concrete mix ratios. Additionally, ensure there isn’t more rain expected in the near future before you pour.
The Wolverine, MI homeowners’ guide to concrete wall construction
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.