What is a Pony Wall?

Engineered Pony/Knee Walls

An engineered pony wall or a knee wall, Is a poured concrete wall to help brace/support a compromised foundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More wall. Pony walls are typically required with foundations that were constructed using stone, brick or concrete blocks.

Concrete/cinder block foundations suffer more issues like buckling and bowing because of the number of joints. As well as the blocks are prone to shifting with ground pressure.

When these foundations fail, regular steel bracing is not enough. Because there are so many stones, bricks or blocks, bracing alone won’t work.

AAA Solid Foundations works with structural engineers to develop a plan to stabilize and reinforce these types of foundations.

When is a pony wall required?

Stone concrete block foundations began appearing in post-war houses. (the late 1940s to the early 1970s). This form of home foundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More does not work well in Regina. The soil conditions in and around Regina (and across most of Saskatchewan) are clay-based.

Block foundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More walls buckle and bow. Either as a result of poor construction or lateral pressure.

Unlike poured concrete foundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More walls, block walls cannot be braced. There are just too many joints in the blocks. Thus, repairing them can be quite expensive, depending on the extent of the damage.

Cinder blocks are best used for interior, non-load-bearing walls. Not exterior, load-bearing walls.

Basic Process of Installing an Engineered Pony Wall

The block foundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More that is compromised is identified and any repairs that can be done are completed.

Based on the structural engineer’s report, AAA Solid FoundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More will add bracing, rebar and concrete forms. When possible, we will add more rebar to help prevent any future cracking.

The forms need to be installed so that the finished pony wall is higher than the ground level (gradeGrade generally refers to the ground level or the elevation at any given point. More) outside of the home.

Once the concrete forms and reinforcing steel has been added. A concrete pump is used to pour the concrete into the forms. A concrete vibrator is moved through the forms to aid in proper distribution and to remove any air pockets in the concrete.

After the concrete forms are removed and the basement is cleaned up. The foundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More wall is safe and will never move again.

Your basement can now be finished if desired.

STONE FOUNDATION WALLS

Stone foundations were common in pre-World War I construction. This style of foundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More consisted of field stones with mortar filled between them. Mortar was also spread over top to bind them together into the walls that make up the home’s foundationThe structural base that transfers the building’s load to the ground. More.

REDBRICK & MORTAR FOUNDATION WALLS

Homes built in the early 1900s used redbrick and mortar for walls.

The problem with these walls is that over time, they can become weak. The mortar can break down, bricks can start to deteriorate.

Inspect your walls for bowing or leaning. The outside soil around these foundations will exert pressure on them, and push them in. This occurs when the brick and mortar breakdown.

Hiring a masonry specialist to repair the mortar and/or brick might be an option. But sometimes the walls need to have added support.

CINDER BLOCK FOUNDATION WALLS

Cinder block foundations aren’t always a bad option. If you are building a home in a rural area, sometimes a ready-mix truck can’t make it to your location to pour concrete.

In these cases, using blocks or cinder blocks is the only option. As long as they are properly installed. Installed on a firm, compacted, even ground. Taking no shortcuts. It can still be a great option in your home.

But if the cinder blocks aren’t sealed. Or if the ground beneath them wasn’t even and compacted before building. Big problems can arise. Settlement can cause cinder blocks to crack, shift, and leak. It is important to check cinder block foundations for changes.