[hobsiscool]

Hi all, I'm new here! Avid DIYer, but some of the foundation repair stuff is a little over my head. Here's the quick back story...essentially, we've got a 50+ year old home on block wall foundation, which is bulging in the middle...In addition, the previous home owner had a drain system put in around the entire foundation base inside, as well as waterproofing panels on the walls.

I hired an engineer, who designed a repair plan for us, which included 5 steel soldier columns to stabilize the block wall. The instruction after installing these was to grout behind them, to maintain contact with the wall the entire way up. He advised to use non-shrink grout. I double checked with an additional foundation repair expert who again recommended Sakrete non-shrink grout.

Here is my problem...we're mixing the grout per directions, but it is WAYYY too runny...we've tried to mix it dryer, and it's just not right. The only way we've been able to get it to stay behind the columns is to let it set up for a while, but at that point, we're racing against the clock before it's not viable anymore....does anyone have any other recommendations, suggestions, or tips?!? Should we try another brand other than Sakrete non-shrink grout?

Thanks in advance!!

Lance (hobsiscool)

 

[HotRodx10]

You may have to form up around the space, i.e. put a board up on each side of the soldier columns, and pour the runny grout in. That would be the best way to get full contact between the wall and the columns, anyway. If you use a stack of thin strips of wood, they will bend and to conform to the wall much easier than thicker pieces. Using a series of short pieces attached to a full length board also works.

 

[hobsiscool]

Thank you, I appreciate it! After pondering a while, I thought I would likely have to build some sort of form for it, so your comment helps reassure my intentions.

 

[HotRodx10]

Another option for forms is to scribe the shape of the wall to a board or panel and cut it to fit the contour of the wall. This is a more attractive option if the bulge in the wall is similar at several of the columns.