What Causes Bowing Interior Walls?

Walls can become deformed for many reasons. If you’re noticing bulging or bowing in interior walls, it can be alarming. What causes bowing interior walls? How does this happen, and can it be corrected?

What Are Bowing Walls?

Bowing Wall

When we talk about bowing walls, we’re talking about a particular deformation that occurs when the center of the wall bulges outward, but the top and bottom of the wall remains mostly fixed in place. This differs from leaning walls, which refers to a wall that slants forward or backward.

There are many reasons an interior wall might bow. Let’s explore a few of the causes of bowing interior walls, and what you can do about it if you notice your walls bowing or bulging.

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Why Do Interior Walls Bow?

In essence, interior walls bow because there is too much pressure against the middle of the wall. When the force exerted on the middle of the wall exceeds the reinforcement needed to keep the wall stable, it will start to bow or bulge outward. These forces may arise from many different situations.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure may be the most common reason interior walls bow. In areas with high precipitation and high water tables the soil around the walls carry a lot of moisture. This moisture puts pressure on the basement walls of your home. If this pressure gets too great, it can cause the wall to bow. Many basements in Michigan suffer from this issue because of the high water table around many lakes and wetlands.

Heavy Objects

Heavy nearby objects can cause the soil to compress and shift outward. If the soil compresses and then shifts outward, it can push against the middle of your basement walls, causing the interior walls to bow. This might occur if a large vehicle is frequently parked nearby, such as a construction vehicle, semi truck, or tractor. In some cases, homes close to rail yards, railroad tracks, construction sites, or even airports can suffer from this problem.

Insufficient Stud Support

Your home’s studs are like its bones. Studs support the walls and help to keep your home upright and stable. If studs are not properly sized, spaced, and placed when the home is built, the walls won’t have enough support to withstand the pressures around them, and they can start to buckle.

Insufficient Lateral Support

To remain stable, homes need a certain number of interior walls. These load-bearing walls help to even out the weight distribution of the home and make sure that no single wall has to carry too much of the load. However, if these walls have been damaged or removed, it puts more pressure on the remaining walls, which can cause them to bow.

Oversized Loads

Even the sturdiest walls can only carry so much weight. If changes or expansions were made to the home, but the walls were not originally designed to carry the weight, they can start to buckle.

Soil Movement

Though you can’t see it as it’s happening, the soil around your home moves. The movement of water, erosion, and temperature changes all cause the soil to shift. Frost-heaving, for example, occurs when the soil swells as temperatures drop and the water in the soil freezes and expands. Any of these soil shifts can cause walls to bow if they put too much pressure on the middle of a wall.

Damage or Decay

Over time, moisture, mold, pests, erosion, and other forces eat away at studs, floor joists, or masonry that keep the home stable. As these parts of your home weaken, then put more pressure on the walls, which can cause them to bow. If your home is very old, weakened masonry, walls, studs, joists or columns may be a part of the cause of bowing walls.

There are many causes of bowing interior walls. If you recognize these situations, it’s helpful to monitor your walls, look for expanding cracks or malformation, and speak with an expert if you’re concerned. Our experts can help you determine the best course of action for bowing walls, and give you a free estimate for professional reinforcement. Call 1-800-782-9379 or contact us today to learn more.