Method of reinforcing concrete block foundation walls

A method of reinforcing a building foundation wall having inside and outside surfaces and a generally vertical passage extending within the wall, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming upper and lower openings in the inside surface of the wall each providing access to the passage from the inside wall surface;
• inserting upper and lower anchor elements into the passage through the respective upper and lower openings;
• anchoring the upper and lower anchor elements in the passage adjacent the respective upper and lower openings;
• inserting an elongate flexible member into the passage and securing opposite end portions of said member to the upper and lower anchor elements to retain the flexible member in the passage in a taut condition;
• forming an intermediate opening in the inside surface of the wall at a location to provide access to the passage between the upper and lower openings;
• inserting a spacer into the passage through said intermediate opening and engaging said spacer against an intermediate portion of said flexible member in a manner to maintain said member in a bowed shape with said intermediate portion being closer to said inside surface than said end portions;
• and
• inserting cement into the passage to form a cement column therein reinforced by said flexible member when the cement sets with the flexible member embedded therein.

A method of reinforcing a building foundation wall formed by stacked blocks cooperating to present a vertical passage within the wall extending between a footing on which the blocks are stacked and a plate which overlies the blocks, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a lower opening in the wall to provide access to the passage at a location adjacent the footing;
• inserting a lower anchor element through said lower opening and anchoring the lower anchor element at the bottom end of the passage;
• forming an upper opening in the wall to provide access to the passage at a location adjacent the plate;
• forming a hole in said plate in alignment with the passage;
• inserting an upper anchor element into the upper opening and passing a threaded shank of the upper anchor element through the hole in the plate;
• applying a nut to said threaded shank at a location above the plate, whereby tightening of the nut draws said upper anchor element upwardly;
• inserting an elongate flexible member into the passage through the upper opening and securing one end portion of said flexible member to the upper anchor element;
• securing the opposite end portion of said flexible member to the lower anchor element;
• tightening said nut to effect a taut condition of the flexible member;
• and
• substantially filling the passage with cement to form a column of cement therein with said flexible member embedded in the column to reinforce same.