Can I Install Helical Tiebacks Myself?

Helical anchors are specialized reinforcement options that require certain tools, skills, and knowledge to install properly. If they are not installed properly, they can do more harm than good, rather like fixing only part of a problem. If you try a DIY fix, you could face many problems. For example: 

• Outward Bulging 

Even if you can find the specialist equipment required to install helical tiebacks, it is possible to over-tighten them. If you do this, you run the risk of pulling your wall outward and causing a lean in the other direction. This could have many effects on your property in the long run, but the most obvious issues would be an exacerbation of existing cracks and increased dampness. The worst-case scenario would be the collapse of a wall. 

As well as all the problems that dampness can bring to a property, this issue will also cost far more in repairs than fixing the original lean or bow would have been. This is because the damage will be exacerbated by the botched repair. In the most severe cases, it may be necessary to replace the wall as a whole. 

• Wall and Floor Gaps 

When your basement walls are under pressure, they can begin to separate from the floor and ceiling; poorly placed or installed anchors can directly contribute to this kind of damage and lead to more pronounced gaps. As such, it is best to let a professional handle this installation to ensure a quick, efficient, and seamless fix. 

Wall and floor gaps may not seem like a huge issue when they are small, after all, but if they become pronounced enough, they can lead to sagging floors or even cause other walls in your home to lean. This is caused by the lack of support and can be quite catastrophic for your home. As such, it is best to let a professional deal with this issue quickly.