Using Wall Anchors To Stabilize Your Home

If you have a basement wall that tilts or curves inward, you’ll benefit from a wall anchor system that stabilizes and potentially straightens the structure. That way, you can protect your home and family’s health.
Below, learn more about wall anchors, why they’re important, and why you should choose a professional like Groundworks to install them.
What Are Wall Anchors?

Wall anchors — also known as basement wall anchors or foundation wall anchors — stabilize and potentially straighten bowing and tilting basement walls. They consist of a steel rod or plate that a contractor installs to a damaged basement wall and connects to an anchor plate outside your home.
Wall anchors can restore the part of the basement wall located below the ground (foundation wall) and the upper portion of the wall visible in the basement. A good wall anchor system prevents a basement wall from further movement, protecting your home’s structural integrity.
Benefits of Wall Anchors
Some of the advantages of wall anchors include:
- Stopping basement walls from shifting
- Stabilizing weakened walls
- Potentially straightening walls
- Preventing cracks from widening
If you have a basement wall that bows or tilts, contact Groundworks today. Our team can inspect your wall, determine the severity of the damage, and help you decide whether wall anchors are a good choice for your circumstances.
What Causes Wall Damage?
Here are some of the reasons why wall damage might occur in your home:
- Hydrostatic pressure: This can happen when the soil around your foundation becomes saturated with water from rain or snow, increasing pressure on your basement wall. Salt Lake City doesn’t experience much rainfall compared to other parts of the country. However, it does snow a lot, which can dampen soil and increase the risk of hydrostatic pressure.
- Expansive soils: Clay-based soils expand when wet and shrink when dry, putting stress on your foundation that can cause a basement wall to bow or crack. Many homes in Salt Lake County and surrounding areas are built on clay soils, including blue clay soil.
- Tree roots: Some trees in Salt Lake City, such as the silver maple, have extensive root systems that can cause soil movement under your home. This might lead to a basement wall bowing and cracking.
Installing Wall Anchors
We recommend getting a professional to install a wall anchor system in your home. Otherwise, you could make your wall problems worse.
Here’s how Groundworks installs wall anchors:
- Excavating the ground (without causing too much disruption) to make room for earth anchors
- Drilling holes to install anchor rods in stable soil
- Driving anchor rods into the soil hydraulically
- Embedding earth anchors in exterior soil
- Securing a rod or plate to interior walls and earth anchors
- Backfilling the excavated area
- Tightening the anchors to improve wall stability
Sometimes, wall anchors might not be right for you — for example, if you don’t have enough space outside your home or property lines are in the way. If this is the case, we offer adjustable steel I-beams that don’t require exterior excavation. This solution is a good option for mild to moderate bowing walls.
How Groundworks Repairs Wall Damage

A bowing or tilting wall might not seem like a big deal, especially if movement is minimal. However, ignoring this problem could lead to the wall collapsing, threatening the entire stability of your home.
Serving Salt Lake City and surrounding areas, Groundworks offers a wall anchor system that reinforces your property and safeguards your family’s safety. Contact our team today for a free inspection and estimate.
Wall Anchors FAQs
Wall anchors provide critical lateral support, preventing inward wall movement caused by soil pressure and load-bearing demands.
Usually, wall anchors can be installed in about 1-2 days, and most projects only take a single day.
Even though wall anchors are extremely effective for keeping foundation walls stable and supported, they aren’t a catch-all solution for every type of foundation damage.
Generally, wall anchors are suited for protection against soil and water pressure against foundation walls. They won’t be able to address sinking or settling as effectively.