InvisiBeam® Carbon-Kevlar® Strap Installation in New Jersey
Permanent Basement Wall Solutions for Central NJ, Northern NJ and the Jersey Shore
There are two major components to every NJ waterproofing job: The quality of the workmanship, and the quality of the products being used. At Blue Umbrella, we’ve not only mastered the art of waterproofing, but we also use the best products available in the industry. Even the most capable foundation repair company will fall short if it uses inferior products that fail to truly fix the problem.
That’s why we carry and install InvisiBeam® by Fortress Stabilization Systems. Fortress is the undisputed industry leader for concrete reinforcement systems. They offer the only code-approved solution on the market for basement wall reinforcement.
The InvisiBeam product is most useful when your NJ basement walls are bowing, tipping, and shearing. All of these problems compromise the structural integrity of NJ homes, leaving homeowners in need of a reliable, long-lasting solution.
Dealing with Foundation Problems?
Blue Umbrella is New Jersey's solution. We provide proven, permanent basement repair to fix your foundation walls.
Common Causes of Basement Wall Problems in NJ
Before diving deeper into the specifics of InvisiBeam, we want to explore the main causes of basement wall problems. While there are a number of reasons why your basement walls can begin to bow and curve inward, the most common include:
- Hydrostatic pressure. Though it sounds complex, hydrostatic pressure is the force created by standing or resting water. When moisture builds up in the soil, the water pushes against your basement walls. All of that pressure takes a toll on your walls, causing them to begin cracking, bowing, and, in the worst-case scenario, collapsing.
- Heavy objects. A vehicle or piece of heavy machinery parked in the driveway or near the home will cause the soil to push down and outward. Avoid leaving heavy objects near basement walls for long periods of time.
- Frozen soil. As soil freezes, it expands. This can create excess pressure against the walls, causing them to bow and crack.
- Expansive soil. Depending on where you live, your property can have expansive soil. Swelling clay minerals within the soil can add additional pressure to the walls, leaving the walls in need of stabilization and repair.
- Tree roots. Over time, tree roots grow and can push against the foundation walls, causing them to crack and/or bow inward.
Bowing, Tipping, and Shearing Foundation Walls
There are a few different terms to describe what might be happening to your basement walls. The more familiar you are with these terms, the more you can follow along and make an informed decision once our foundation repair contractor explains what’s happening in your basement.
Basement Wall Bowing
Out of the three, you’ve probably heard the term “bowing” the most. A bowing basement wall refers to a wall that is curving inward. If you stand next to the bowing wall, it will look like it’s bulging due to the inward deflection of the foundation wall.
Basement Wall Tipping
When the wall is tipping or leaning, it usually means there’s a weak point at the top of the wall. The wall will remain straight, but it’s leaning either inward or outward, depending on where the weak point is located.
Basement Wall Shearing
Foundation block walls are built with the bottom row of blocks secured to the basement footing, making them less movable than the rest of the wall. If external pressure is causing the rest of the wall to push inward, it will break off from the bottom row of blocks. If left untreated, the rest of the wall will hang over the bottom row of blocks and can eventually collapse.
How Does InvisiBeam Fix Damaged Foundation Walls?
InvisiBeam is not the same thing as “steel I-beams,” “carbon fiber strips” or any other wall reinforcement system or product you might have heard of. It’s in an entirely separate class of its own. This is because InvisiBeam uses patented technologies that no other manufacturer can replicate. Patents that are the result of 20+ years of engineering and testing, making InvisiBeam far superior to any other concrete reinforcement product on the market.
InvisiBeam reinforces basement walls using the system’s three major components: the top anchor, the bottom anchor, and the carbon-Kevlar® straps that are over four times stronger than steel. Yes, you read that right! Securing the entire wall from top to bottom, InvisiBeam stabilizes bowing, leaning, and shearing basement walls in a way that other strategies and products can’t come close to matching.
Most carbon fiber straps are unanchored and only address partial wall movement. InvisiBeam is the only code-approved solution on the market for contractors and the only one NJ structural engineers truly trust.
How Is InvisiBeam Different From Regular Carbon Fiber Straps?
As previously mentioned, InvisiBeam utilizes patented technologies owned by Fortress. It’s the first system to receive ICC-ES (International Code Council Evaluation Service) certification. This makes it the only concrete reinforcement system that passes building codes internationally. The rigorous amount of testing required for this certification proves that InvisiBeam is the most reliable, effective solution of its kind.
NJ homeowners who choose InvisiBeam have peace of mind knowing their home is truly safe and will pass inspections should they ever choose to sell. Rather than trying to hide a foundation wall repair that used inferior products, you can turn it into an asset by using InvisiBeam: the only internationally approved concrete reinforcement system in the world.
Here are some other key features that separate InvisiBeam from classic carbon fiber straps:
Top Anchor. The top anchor secures the strap to the flooring system above the basement wall to prevent the wall from tipping. It is post-tensioned after installation, meaning it’s tightened even further to ensure an unbreakable bond to the wall. No other company offers a post-tensioned wall anchor as part of its reinforcement system.
Bottom Anchor. Most competitor products involve no anchor on the bottom. This is an absolutely crucial component because it secures the strap to the foundation and prevents the wall from shearing. The Fortress bottom anchor is over 5 times thicker and 125 times stiffer than competitors’ anchors. Together, the two anchors create a mechanical bond from top to bottom.
Pre-Cured Carbon-Kevlar Straps. We can’t stress enough that not all carbon fiber is the same. Some contractors use weaker or inferior kinds of carbon fiber that do not come with a warranty. Fortress uses a proprietary manufacturing method to create a unidirectional carbon fiber product, resulting in the strongest strap available on the market. Fortress products are also used in commercial applications, including parking garages, seawalls, bridges and more. Their products are also approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
ReGrid Patented Technology. ReGrid is Fortress’ patented composite technology. It involves an industry-leading bonding process to create the strongest possible bond between the carbon-Kevlar straps and the concrete structure.
Minimal Margin For Error. Competitor systems that have to be manually saturated in the field by the technician create plenty of room for error. Fortress avoids this issue by pre-curing their InvisiBeam carbon-Kevlar straps in their 25,000-sq.ft manufacturing plant located in Michigan. By the time the straps are in your home, they’re ready to be used right away.
Made in the USA. InvisiBeam carbon fiber straps are made in Holland, Michigan, along with their patented top anchor and bottom anchor. Many of our competitors’ products are made in China. Competitor carbon fiber products are sourced from third-party carbon suppliers and do not undergo the rigid ICC certification process that Fortress products do.
Best Foundation Repair Warranty
InvisiBeam comes with the strongest lifetime warranty available in the home foundation repair industry. We purchase the product directly from Fortress, the manufacturer. Because of this, we are able to extend the Fortress lifetime warranty to our customers.
As long as the product is installed correctly, Fortress guarantees the effectiveness of InvisiBeam for life. If there ever is an issue, Fortress will pay an authorized InvisiBeam contractor to repair or replace any defective material. Plus, if the company that installs InvisiBeam in your home is ever sold or goes out of business, you’re still covered by the manufacturer warranty.
Blue Umbrella registers our warranties under the home’s address, not the homeowner’s name. By doing this whenever you sell your home, the warranty is 100% transferable at zero cost to you or the potential buyer.
How to Install InvisiBeam
Let's cover how InvisiBeam is installed in your home.
- Prepare the wall for installation. We grind off any paint or coatings off the wall where the straps will be installed. Dustless grinding and a HEPA vacuum control any dust and ensure a clean work environment. We also seal any existing cracks using a high-compression, high-strength epoxy to prevent future expansion or contraction. For larger cracks, we use composite Crack Stitch.
- Install the top anchor. We install the anchor slightly above the sill plate. The anchor is secured using hanger bolts drilled into the rim joist or sill plate above the wall. The anchor prevents any de-bonding of the straps and keeps the wall from tipping at the top.
- Install the carbon-Kevlar strap. Using a structural epoxy, the straps will be bonded securely to your wall. This makes the wall stronger than when it was built.
- Install the bottom anchor. The bottom of each strap will be secured using a solid carbon plate anchor, which also prevents the wall from shearing at the bottom. This will be installed by drilling two holes into your slab floor, and then inserting the anchor and securing it with structural epoxy.
- Attach the Mylar® film. We’ll attach a piece of Mylar that acts as a vaccum to remove any air voids that can otherwise weaken the strength of the system. The Marlar film also ensures a smooth finish on the newly installed strap. This Mylar film can be removed after 24 hours and the straps can then be painting or covered at your discretion.
- Warranty submission. Once the job is complete, we’ll take a photo of each installed strap to ensure you’re eligible for the InvisiBeam Lifetime Warranty by Fortress.
InvisiBeam Carbon Fiber Strap FAQs
Before we end, let's cover some of the common questions we get from New Jersey homeowners.
Choose Blue Umbrella to Fix Your New Jersey Basement Wall
We’re not interested in offering our customers temporary solutions for lasting problems. That’s why we are a Platinum contractor for InvisiBeam. By partnering directly with Fortress, we are able to represent the manufacturer rather than a third-party middleman. We communicate directly with Fortress and are able to give our New Jersey customers peace of mind by installing a code-approved product and extending Fortress’ Lifetime Warranty.
There are only about 100 Platinum contractors in the country, and we’re incredibly proud to be one of them! Fortress shares our philosophy for how every homeowner should approach foundation wall repair: Do it right the first time so you never have to do it again!
Contact our foundation repair company today to request a free foundation inspection and no-obligation estimate for your New Jersey basement.
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Contact us today for a free inspection and no-obligation estimate for your New Jersey basement wall repair.
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