Rhino Bi-directional Carbon Fiber
10x the Tensil strength of steel!
Ultimate tensile strength or simply, tensile strength, is the measure of the maximum stress that an object/material/structure can withstand without being elongated, stretched or pulled.
CORNER WALL REPAIR
Rhino Carbon Fiber® also offers the most advanced corner repair solution available. The corner repair kits are great to reinforce the corner of the structure. Many structures have a beam that pockets over the top of the corners of the foundation wall. These areas have a tendency to crack due to the pressure and weight of the beam. The Rhino Carbon Fiber® corner kits can repair a cracked corner or reinforce a wall to prepare for an addition.
Rhino Carbon Fiber® is the only system that structurally repairs and reinforces the corner of your foundation wall and prevents future cracks. Carbon fiber actually strengthens the wall itself. With the corner kit it distributes the pressure horizontally to correct the damage and prevent any future damage. It has a smooth, flat finish that blends in with the existing wall and can be easily painted or covered with wall board.
All Rhino Carbon Fiber® products have a lifetime, transferable warranty.
Bowed Walls?
Additional Informati
WHAT IS A BOWED WALL?
Any foundation wall that has inward or outward movement causing the wall to lean or buckle.
WHAT CAUSES A BOWED WALL?
Foundation walls can bow for a variety reasons. It can occur due to the age of the structure, poor construction, or water pressure. Bowed walls are commonly seen in older homes due to years of repetitive freeze and thaw cycles and soil settlement. Sometimes, large roots and trees put added pressure on the foundation walls.
Sometimes a bowed wall is caused by poor construction. When a house is built in inadequate conditions, such as lack of rebar, improper drainage system, improper backfilling and negative fall on grading, etc., it will cause the foundation to bow.
Hydrostatic (water) pressure building up in the soil outside of the house is the most common cause of a bowing foundation wall. When the ground freezes and then thaws, it expands and contracts the water in the soil. This results in the soil pushing against the foundation wall. This is why the most common form of a bowed wall is just below the frost line.
Rhino Carbon Fiber® wall supports are a great solution for bowing walls. The patented system is the strongest system on the market because it ties to the foundation base and the house framing.
The carbon fiber is fastened to the sill plate with a galvanized bracket and secured to the foundation floor with a carbon fiber pin. Deterioration does not occur because the carbon fiber system is secured to the foundation wall allowing for an even distribution of outside pressure. Carbon fiber works on both block and poured concrete foundation walls to repair not only bowing walls but also all types of foundation cracks.
Carbon fiber wall supports are installed from the inside of the basement so it is less intrusive and less expensive than other repair options. There is no digging into the yard and carbon fiber is a clean and fast installation.
The final finish is smooth, flat, and nearly invisible when painted. The repair is maintenance-free and can be covered without taking square footage from a basement remodel.
The Rhino Carbon Fiber system is also perfect to install on a bowing wall in your crawlspace. It’s easy to install in tight locations and the footer is already exposed in a crawlspace which will ensure exact connecting to the footer of your home.
Crack Injection
Additional Information
CRACKED WALLS
When it comes to poured concrete, cracks are not a matter of if but when. Naturally concrete shrinks and expands as it cures, which can cause cracks. Tree roots, water pressure buildup from poor drainage and outside water control can also lead to non structural concrete cracks. The more serious cracks are structural cracks from hydrostatic pressure, freeze and thaw cycles in the soil, and wall shifts, footers sinking and settlement all can cause concrete cracks.
There are two kit options that we offer, a crack repair kit and a crack injection kit. If you are having water coming through your crack an injectable crack repair is the way to go. Both kits can be used for the same project. The crack injection would be installed first and then carbon fiber can be applied on top to add more strength.
RHINO CRACK INJECTIONS
Surface treatments are never the right option for fixing concrete foundation cracks. The concrete foundation cracks need to be fixed with crack injection.
Typically, non structural cracks are repaired with crack injection materials. If the crack is non structural and merely leaking, many contractors install a simple polyurethane to stop the leak and fill the crack. However, if the poured wall is cracked it will most likely crack again. There is usually something causing the crack and weakening the wall. Because this epoxy will fill the crack, strengthen the wall, and stop the leak.
If the crack is moving it needs to be filled with an epoxy. Epoxy bonds to the concrete inside the cracks and creates a rigid, solid repair. It literally makes the crack bond to the wall again as if the crack was never there. It makes the wall actually stronger than it was before. In addition to epoxy crack injection, some cracks that move (open and close) also need carbon fiber staples. The carbon fiber staples can stop the structural crack from moving.
If your foundation cracks are due to the foundation sinking, then fixing the crack is like putting a band-aid on when you need surgery. If the cracks in your foundation is a sign of settlement, then you will need to call a piering contractor to discuss a solution. A combination of underpinning and carbon fiber wall supports and epoxy crack injection may be turn out to be the best solution. Overall, a professional foundation repair contractor should inspect your cracked foundation to make sure it isn’t signifying more serious structural issues with your house.
Understanding structural remediation options
What are Rhino Supports?
WHAT IS RHINO CARBON FIBER SUPPORTS?
Rhino Carbon Fiber® Wall Supports is a patented carbon fiber system designed to repair bowed foundation walls by linking the foundation base with the house framing, making it the strongest system on the market! Not only does the bi-directional support system repair bowed foundations walls but it can also be utilized to repair other forms of damage in foundations. This repair system works on large and small cracks, stair stepping cracks in concrete block walls, leaking cracks, and hairline cracks that crack injection alone won’t fix. This system structurally repairs the cracks, stops them from moving, and prevents water from entering the basement.
The smooth, flat finish can be easily painted or covered with wall panels. Installation is quick and the repair is long-lasting. Rhino Carbon Fiber® has a limited lifetime, transferable warranty.
What is Carbon Fiber?
WHAT IS CARBON FIBER?
Carbon fiber is the strongest, man-made material in the world. It is incredibly lightweight and will not stretch. It can be woven into fabric sheets or melted down and molded into various shapes to create hundreds of different products. It is a material made up of small fibers of carbon. These small fibers were found to be exceptionally strong individually, but when thousands of these fibers are woven and bonded together, they are stronger than steel.
The process to make carbon fiber is complicated and was originally very expensive. Since it was so expensive, carbon fiber was only reserved for critical applications like space shuttles, airplane wings, and bridge repairs.
Today, mass production of carbon fiber has made it more accessible and affordable to use in every day applications. Due to its outstanding performance and popularity, carbon fiber is now used in other products such as motorcycle helmets, bullet-proof vests, and golf clubs just to name a few.
Finally, carbon fiber is affordable to use in residential foundation repair applications. Once carbon fiber is bonded to the wall with epoxy, the wall can no longer deflect or move. Whencarbon fiber is applied, it actually makes the wall stronger than it was before. Carbon fiber applications are commonly used prior to basement remodeling projects so that homeowners can remodel with the assurance that their walls are solid and are as strong as they can be.
How is it installed?
ASeveral things can occur for your basement walls to become bowed.
1. HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE (WATER PRESSURE)
The most common cause of bowing/buckling basement walls are hydrostatic pressure and expansive soils, especially in colder climates because moisture in the soil can freeze. The soil freezing can put tremendous pressure on the wall, that pressure, is what can cause the cracks to form. As the temperature fluctuates throughout the year, it results in your wall starting to shift.
2. TREE ROOTS
Some trees and plants may have roots that extend to the foundation of a building. When this occurs, it results in pressure being placed on the walls.
3. HEAVY SOILS
When soil shifts it results in pressure being exerted on your basement walls causing them to become bowed or cracked.
4. POOR BUILDING PROCESS
The way in which the walls were constructed can also be a factor in the pressure being put on them. The environment where the basement was built may not have been ideal, resulting in a poor structure. Issues with the walls may not show up right away, but in the future there could be problems.
5. AGE
As time goes on, your basement walls may start to break down. The average basement can last up to 100 years. Along with that, your basement walls could encounter shifting and other outside pressures over an extended period of time.
6. SETTLING
The area that your foundation is sitting on (the footer), could be sitting on materials that aren’t secure. Settling can occur due to the heavy weight that is sitting on top if it. Your basement may have been built in an area that has soil that moves.
7. DETERIORATION
The coating that is on basement walls can break down as time goes on, causing water to come in contact with the concrete. The water can then lower the strength and durability of the wall. You may start to notice discolorations, water, cracks, or the walls becoming bowed.
8. SHRINKAGE
Shrinking comes from the curing of concrete. Cracks develop as the concrete shrinks and once a crack is formed, the cracked wall is less stable than the surrounding walls. Pressure from outside of the wall may cause it to bow.
BWhen dealing with bowed or cracked basement walls, there are several different scenarios that can take place. Below are some of the main issues that you may encounter if your basement walls are cracked or bowed.
1. CRACKED BLOCK FOUNDATION
When you notice a situation like this, it means that there is lateral pressure on your basement walls.
2. CRACKS IN POURED CONCRETE
This is something that may occur about 30 days after the concrete curing process has reached completion.
3. CRACKS IN BRICK FACING
Foundation movement is a serious issue and cracks can be a sign of it. It is best to contact a foundation repair specialist so the cause and future condition of the walls can be determined.
4. CHIMNEY CRACKING OR LEANING
Most of the time chimneys are built upon footers, any cracking or leaning could be a sign of movement in the footer. Having your foundation specialist look at the cracking or leaning can determine the extent of the problem.
5. DRYWALL CRACKS
Physical damage can take place if your foundation is shifting. Commonly, these cracks can appear around windows, doors, and/or corners.
6. UNEVEN DOORS AND WINDOWS
This occurs when your foundation is shifting. Signs of this include windows or doors that are not opening or closing properly.
7. SINKING FOUNDATION
This is a serious issue that should be checked out by your foundation specialist as soon as possible. A sinking foundation occurs when there is a separation that has been created by the building structure and foundation. If not resolved, walls may start to collapse.
When should I consider steel beams?
Steel beams are always an option when dealing with structural deficiencies. It is typically the last step before a rebuild is warranted.
Exterior use of Carbon Fiber
If you are looking at this section it is probably because you have a corner of your home that is cracked or starting to show signs of movement.
Our Bi-Directional Carbon Fiber is 10x stronger than steel in tensile strength. What that means is that the fiber weave will resist forces far greater than steel can handle.
Go Pro and Rhino offer a unconditional lifetime warranty on this repair.
Carbon fiber sheets are similar to carbon fiber plates in the sense that they don’t secure to the sill plate or floor. When the wall support is not connected to the house framing and attached to the top and bottom of the foundation wall, the pressure moves to the weak areas and causes the wall to move as one unit. The whole wall shifts inward and results in total failure or a shear at the cove (where the wall meets the floor).
Carbon fiber sheets are appealing because they cover a wide surface area, typically 2-3 times more than carbon fiber straps and plates giving the appearance of a superior repair. This is a common misconception because carbon fiber sheets are typically unidirectional, thinner and lighter than other carbon fiber products. Sheets typically weigh between 240g and 280g. Carbon fiber sheets are used because they do not require a custom weave, making them easier to source and cheaper to obtain. A high quality carbon fiber will be bi-directional weighing above 550g.
Open Floor Plan installation
Todays home owner in many cases wants an open floor concept where each room flows into the next. Typically load bearing walls are a major deterrent in these types of projects.
Structural steel is used in place of the load bearing walls. The steel is typically sized based on the span in which it is going to carry.
Is your floor sagging?
Main carrier beams
Let the expert installers at Go Pro replace your deficient wood beam and replace it with a forever prepare using structural steel. All installations done with laser accuracy!