Pony Wall Design & Replacement

Pony walls—short walls built inside the crawl space—are sometimes used to support beams, shorten spans, or redistribute loads in pier and beam homes. When these walls are poorly designed, built on weak supports, or damaged by moisture, they can contribute to sagging floors and uneven rooms instead of preventing them.

Brown Foundation Repair designs and rebuilds pony walls so they provide reliable, long-term support for your floor system.

What Is a Pony Wall in the Crawl Space?

A pony wall is a low wall constructed under the home, often running perpendicular or parallel to beams and joists. It typically sits on pads, blocks, or a narrow footing and helps support the structure above. Properly built pony walls can help reduce bounce and deflection in large rooms or long spans.

When Pony Walls Need to Be Repaired or Rebuilt

Pony walls may need attention when they are leaning, poorly aligned, set on inadequate supports, or built with undersized materials. Symptoms can include floor dips above the wall, cracking along interior partitions, or visible shifting of the wall inside the crawl space.

During a crawl space inspection, our project planners evaluate whether existing pony walls are helping or hurting the structure and whether redesign is needed.

The Brown Approach to Pony Wall Design & Replacement

We start by assessing how loads should be carried through the crawl space and where additional support is truly beneficial. When rebuilding or adding a pony wall, we use proper framing techniques and ensure it bears on stable supports such as improved pads, upgraded block systems, or mono posts where point loads require more robust support.

Pony wall work is often performed in conjunction with wood beam replacement or joist replacement to create a complete, cohesive support system.

Benefits of a Properly Designed Pony Wall

When correctly designed and supported, pony walls can significantly improve floor performance, reduce sagging, and help distribute loads more evenly across the crawl space. This leads to better long-term results from other foundation repairs and a more solid feel underfoot.

Schedule a Free Evaluation

If you’ve been told you have pony wall issues or suspect your crawl space supports are not performing as they should, contact Brown Foundation Repair for a free evaluation. We’ll determine whether pony wall design or replacement is needed as part of your pier and beam repair plan.