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    bauer09's Avatar
    bauer09 Posts: 94, Reputation: 4
    Junior Member
    		  
    #1

    Jun 12, 2008, 06:06 PM
    Bracing a buckling garage wall
    Hi all...

    I hope someone out there can understand my situation and give me some advice. I have a very old garage with terra-cotta walls that are buckling in... possibly due to hydrostatic/soil pressure, or possible a large tree root. The garage has been standing for 60 years, and according to the previous owner, has not buckled more while he was there.

    I would like to create a precautionary brace for the roof, in case the buckling inwards continues. My idea is to use 4 4x4's on each side of the garage, anchored to the concrete floor, and bolted into the rafters along the wall. Anybody think this sounds like a viable idea? If so, I am also having trouble finding a decent way of securing the 4x4's to the concrete -- I've looked into metal brackets, but most of them involve cementing in an anchor bolt to the floor.

    Any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated! If need be, I can try and draw up a picture if that helps.
    Thanks!
    letmetellu's Avatar
    letmetellu Posts: 3,151, Reputation: 317
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #2

    Jun 12, 2008, 07:28 PM
    You can secure the brackets to the concrete with a screw called a capcon, drill a hole and screw the capcon directly into the concrete and then secure the brackets to the 4x4 with bolts or lag screws.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #3

    Jun 13, 2008, 08:57 AM
    Tapcon Buildex TapconŽ. It sounds like you are creating 4 legs for the corner of the roof in case the walls buckle further. This will only add a very slight amount of support, thing as large as you might picture in your mind. You would need to add two diagonal supports to each of the 3 walls to keep this structure standing.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #4

    Jun 13, 2008, 07:02 PM
    Part of this wall must be below grade. Can you post a picture?
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