For “Bowing” walls, carbon fiber is often superior to steel because it has a higher tensile strength and takes up zero floor space. Unlike steel I-beams that must be bolted into the floor and ceiling (taking up 4–6 inches of your basement), carbon fiber straps are bonded directly to the wall and can be painted over. At Basement Expert, we use carbon fiber to “lock” a wall in place, preventing further movement without the intrusive construction required for traditional steel bracing.