Our 1950s war-time bungalow basement walls are bowing inward after last winter. How urgent is this?

This is very urgent and potentially dangerous — bowing basement walls indicate serious structural failure that requires immediate professional assessment. Do not delay in getting a structural engineer to evaluate your foundation, as continued movement could lead to catastrophic collapse.

Immediate Safety Steps: If the bowing is severe (more than 2 inches of inward movement), consider temporarily relocating until you have a professional assessment. Look for cracks in the foundation walls, especially horizontal cracks or stair-step patterns, which indicate the walls are failing under soil pressure. Check for new cracks in your main floor walls or ceilings, doors that won't close properly, or windows that are binding — these are signs the foundation movement is affecting your entire house structure.

Why This Happens in Calgary: Your 1950s war-time bungalow likely has a rubble stone or early concrete block foundation that wasn't designed for Calgary's extreme soil conditions. Our expansive clay soils (bentonite) absorb massive amounts of water during spring melt and heavy rains, then exert tremendous lateral pressure against foundation walls. The freeze-thaw cycles from chinooks make this worse, and after 70+ years, your foundation materials may have deteriorated. War-time homes were often built quickly with minimal foundation reinforcement compared to modern standards.

Professional Assessment Required: Contact a structural engineer immediately — this is not a job for a general contractor. The engineer will determine if the walls can be stabilized or if they need complete replacement. Common repair methods in Calgary include installing steel I-beams or carbon fiber reinforcement strips, but severely bowed walls often require excavation and rebuilding. You'll also need to address the root cause — poor drainage, damaged weeping tile, or inadequate waterproofing that's allowing water to saturate the clay around your foundation.

Expected Costs and Timeline: Emergency structural assessments typically cost $800-$1,500. Foundation repairs for bowing walls range from $15,000-$40,000 for reinforcement methods, or $40,000-$80,000+ for complete wall replacement. This work requires building permits and inspections through the City of Calgary. The repair window is limited to May through October due to excavation requirements — frozen ground makes this work nearly impossible in winter.

Next Steps: Call a structural engineer today for an emergency assessment. Document the bowing with photos and measurements. Check your home insurance policy — some foundation movement may be covered, though gradual settling usually isn't. Find verified structural engineers and foundation specialists in our Calgary directory to get multiple professional opinions on the best repair approach for your specific situation.