Stem Wall Signs of Failure
As you can see, in this image the stem wall has flaking paint and there are concrete cracks all over. The reason for concrete cracks is the exposure of concrete to moisture. Eventually, the contact of water with concrete makes the concrete change its PH and become more acid, which causes rust production and will lead to damaging the rebar and the whole stem wall as a result.
Effects of Concrete to Moisture
Here is a clear example of how water affects stem walls. As shown in the photo, there is a faucet very close to a stem wall and what you can see is how damaged the stem wall is.
Mid Process of Stem Wall Repair - 1
Before removing the concrete and replacing the rebar, our heroes make sure to protect the surroundings by using plastic sheets next to the stem wall. In this manner, if the Homeowners have grass or gravel, they do not have to worry about their property getting damaged.
Mid Process of Stem Wall Repair - 2
In this step, the damaged concrete got removed and the rebar got replaced as well. The next step is to add the polypropylene string to the needed areas to secure the rebar with the wall and add the cement to make it look nice and smooth.
Result After Stem Wall Repair
This is the result of the stem wall process repair. As you can see, the stem wall is dried, and the concrete got ground to get rid of any imperfections and irregularities.