California Foundation Repair
Contact us at (805)526-1384
  • Foundation Repair
  • About Us
    • Project Case Histories
    • Resources
    • Service Areas
    • Affiliations
  • Services
    • Underpinning
    • Helical Anchors
    • Hillside Restoration
    • Concrete Slabs
    • Retaining Walls
    • Drainage Improvement
    • Load Testing
  • Home Owners
  • Blog
  • Contact

"I Know I Have A Foundation Problem, What Do I Do Now?"

8/8/2018

 

​Property owners typically ask “I know that I have a foundation problem, but what do I do now, what are the steps I should take in getting it repaired”? The following is a basic outline which indicates the various steps necessary to effectively complete the often arduous, but necessary Building permit and contractor selection process:

Most foundation issues are the result of soils/geology issues such as expansive soil, hillside creep etc., rather then a structural issue such as concrete failure, etc., Therefore, the first step in the process is to retain the services of a Soils/Geotechnical Engineering firm. The Soils/Geotechnical Engineer will evaluate the project site above and below the surface of the ground. This investigation will include all or part of the following in addition to other information specific to the project:

1.). Manometer survey (floor level survey to determine foundation/slab movement)
2.). Test pits - commonly hand dug to determine footing size and depth, or to determine depth of fill soils, etc.
3.). Borings - Typically performed with portable drill equipment to deeper depths to determine underlying geological formation of the site, depth of water table, angle of bedding plains which might effect lateral stability of the structure etc.,
4.). Corrosion Potential - Necessary to determine if concrete and/or steel could be adversely effected by highly corrosive soils.


Once the Soils/Geology Report has been completed, a copy of the report is provided to the project Civil/Structural Engineer for use in preparation of the actual “plan of repair”.  The Soils/Geology report outlines what caused the foundation issues, as well as providing options for repairing them.  Most Geotechnical firms will offer more then one option if they feel that the desired end result can be accomplished by more then a single approach.  In this regard, the property owner needs to realize that many foundation contractors only offer a single specific method of repair which may or may not be the best approach for your particular project.  These firms generally employ either “Resistance” or “helical” Pile systems only. Both systems have a purpose when used appropriately, but not all such mechanical systems are an appropriate  alternative to conventional concrete pile and grade beam systems depending on the situation.  The structural engineer’s job is to weigh the various  options based upon cost, site access for equipment, Building Department approvals, Soils Engineers approval and completes his design and calculations.

Once completed, this “plan of repair” is then sent back to be reviewed by the project Soil/Geotechnical Engineer for the purpose of verifying that all of the recommendations outlined in their soils/geology report have been complied with. 

Now, the LAST STEP step in the process is to engage foundation repair contractors to provide you with itemized, apples to apples repair estimates which are all equally based upon the same “plan of repair”.  

However, we find that most property owners tend to reverse the entire process by soliciting contractor's repair quotes from advertisements on  the internet, generally based upon how high up on the page their company is listed which is in no way an indicator of a contractor's competence. Soliciting contractors for estimate’s  of repair prior to having a complete set of repair plans and specifications does nothing more than complicate the process.  Without a proper set of plans the owner will generally get a vastly different scope of work and cost from every contractor called to bid leaving them completely confused. Further, owners tend to lose trust in the contractors who are all selling something different.

Owners should keep In mind that the contractor’s role in foundation repair is limited to “implementing” the repair plan which was designed by the owner's project engineers only, it is not their role to provide recommendations for such repairs, as most are not licensed to do so.  Further, when soliciting contractors for your foundation repair project search out those firms that specialize in “Foundation Repair” , meaning those who are experienced in all types and methods of foundation construction and remediation, not simply one or two methods.

The science and methodologies employed in the repair of a distressed foundation vary greatly from those of new building design and construction. As in many fields, repairing of damaged structures requires a much wider field of experience and expertise then that of building a new structure.

The following lists of engineers include only those firms and individuals that I have had the pleasure of working with and can personally contest to their competence:


1.)Soils/Geotechnical Engineers

Grover Hollingsworth & Associates - Mr. Bob Hollingsworth - 818-889-0844
Hamilton Geotechnical - Mr. Richard Martin - 310-618-2190
Steven Helfrich & Associates - Mr. Steve Helfrich - 909-389-7316
Subsurface Designs - Mr. Jon Mann - 818-898-1595
Bay City Geology - Mr. Jonathan Miller - 310-429-6681
Geosoils Inc. - Ms.Karen Miller - 818-785-2158
Associated Soils Engineering, Inc. - 562-426-7990
RMA Geoscience - Mr. Mark Swiatek - 818-262-4527


2.)Civil/Structural Engineers

Wahba F. Wahba Inc. - Mr. Wahba F. Wahba - 818-974-4096
Albert Avila & Associates - Mr. Albert Avila - 818-489-4076
Ashley & Vance - Mr. Sean Galbreath - 323-744-0010’
Joe Podegracz Engineering - Mr. Joe Podegracz - 818-235-9224
Palos Verdes Engineer - Mr. John Schruich - 31-541-5055
Parker Resnick & Associates - Mr. Leo Parker - 310-478-8372
NCE Structural - Mr. Bill Nelson - 714-322-0982
Palos Verdes Engineering - Mr. Rick Moralis - 310-541-5055
David C. Weiss & Associates - 818-227-8040
​Greg Riley P.E. - 805-630-6619

Earthquake Safety Laws- How they will effect you!

10/8/2015

 
Will the new earthquake retrofitting laws effect you and your family?  New laws are being passed requiring rental apartment buildings to be retrofitted for tenant safety.  The peace of mind that you will be safe in the event of a disaster is always good to have, However, the cost may effect the price of your new home.  

Learn more about Earthquake Retrofitting laws in California

EARTHQUAKES!!

9/17/2015

 
Is your Home, Commercial, or Industrial foundation prepared for the next earthquake? 

 Even the smallest earthquake can cause soil settlement and your foundation to shift. This can lead to major..and costly problems in the future.   Don't lose your investment because you thought it couldn't happen to you!



Check out this link to see the recent quakes in California..


 
California Quakes
Picture
Most vulnerable areas of the nation for earthquales
Picture
Don't let your home fall victim to the next earthquake!

Soil: The Other Half of Your Foundation

9/15/2015

 
A concrete foundation is only as good as the soil grade on which it is placed. It is very important to insure that subgrade is properly compacted and that proper moisture content is maintained as required by the Soils Engineer prior to concrete placement. Even the best steel design, concrete mix and Finisher can produce an inferior product if the subgrade was not properly prepared. Don't let bad soil be the end to your good foundation work. Call RJG Construction and they can help you fix the soil settlement and make your foundation stable again. Don't loose your investment! Read this article below to learn more about the importance of your soil. 


http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/soil-other-half-foundation.aspx


soil_the_other_half_of_your_foundation.pdf
File Size: 1421 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

40th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations- DFI

9/8/2015

 
October 12, 2015 - October 15, 2015
Oakland Marriott City Center
Oakland, CA

Join DFI in celebrating their 40th Anniversary. DFI's Annual Conference on Deep Foundations is the event for industry professionals from across the globe to gather and share experiences, exchange ideas and learn the current state-of-the-practice from various disciplines. Engineers, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, owners, government agencies and academicians will meet in Oakland to attend informative technical sessions, learn more about the latest innovations in deep foundations technology in the Exhibit Hall and much more.


More Information

Know the Difference! Handyman Vs. State Licensed Contractor

8/25/2015

 
A handyman can contract for jobs that cost less than $500 in COMBINED labor and material costs. Any project that charges over $500 requires a contractor's license.

Make sure you know the difference between a handyman and a state-licensed contractor.

Picture

California Drought Causes Foundation Settlements! Be Aware!

8/20/2015

 
Foundation settlements during high storm season seems pretty obvious, but what about during a drought? 

"Vast areas of California's Central Valley are sinking faster than in the past as massive amounts of groundwater are pumped during the historic drought, state officials said Wednesday, citing new research by NASA scientists.
The data shows the ground is sinking nearly two inches each month in some places, putting roads, bridges and vital canals that deliver water throughout the state at growing risk of damage."... 

READ MORE...

Don't let your home, commercial, or industrial building suffer. Protect your investment! Call RJG for a Free online estimate for your Foundation Repair today!



Picture
Folsom Lake Resovoir: Folsom, California

Prepare your home for El Nino 2016!

8/18/2015

 
Mudslides, flooding, foundation settlement.. don't let this happen to you!! Forecast are predicting the strongest El Nino to be recorded in 2016. is your home prepared? Will your drainage system withstand? Will your foundation?  Millions of dollars in home, commercial and industrial damage will occur, don't let your property become one of these statistics.  Safeguard your investment before it is too late!!
Picture
Photo of the Laguna Beach, California Landslide, which occurred in June, 2005. This landslide occurred due to record heavy rainfall in Southern California in the preceding months. It occurred next to the 1978 bluebird Canyon Landslide. Photos by Jim Bowers, USGS. For more information on this landslide, please see: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/landslides/Laguna_Beach.htm.

Helical Pile Building Code Update

8/6/2015

 
The attached excerpt from the 2013 California Building Code regarding pre construction load testing of helical pile systems applies to ALL projects in which helical piles/anchors are installed in California. The requirement for field load testing noted applies to ALL projects, both remedial foundation repair or new construction., whether they be residential, commercial or industrial. This code section is often mis-interpreted by installation contractors, some assume that the “correlation of installation torque to capacity” is a stand alone method, it is not.  The attached code section actually requires that engineers verify the pile capacity by checking ALL of the 6 methods noted, it is not the contractors option to chose.  As many engineers are not yet familiar with the design of helical pile systems, we suggest that you provide them with a copy of the attached code section for their review.

The use of helical pile foundation and tieback systems in California is rapidly becoming the deep foundation choice due to these systems obvious advantages over conventional systems.  Because of this rapid growth in our industry, many helical contractors have been installing helical systems utilizing “installation torque” only as a method of verifying the engineers required capacity.  However, the current California Building Code absolutely requires that field load tests be performed in order to comply.  This type of test is the only method of verifying that the contractor has installed the helical pile system to the correct load requirements as outlined by your project engineer.

Costs to underpin a structure is an expense that is hard to bare for most people.  Protect your investment by ensuring that your chosen underpinning contractor is installing your system in full compliance with the California Building Code.

RJG Construction Company, Inc. is one of the first manufacturer certified installation contractors in California, trained in implementing ASTM type load test procedures.  These tests are performed as standard protocol on every project by RJG.  Do not gamble with your investment , contact us to obtain your free consultation.*

Kenneth B. Drake
RJG Construction Company, Inc.
4225 Valley Fair Street, Suite 106
Simi Valley, CA 93063
(805)526-1384 OFFICE
(805)526-1385 FAX
(805)390-2169 CELL



*Free Online Estimates - Before you expend funds on formal engineering, please request our free online estimate and scope of work. This will be provided in a unit cost format based upon the information provided by you by way of a short phone call or email. Restrictions may apply.
helical_pile_load_capacity_verifcation.pdf
File Size: 505 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

    Author

    Kenneth B Drake
    CEO
    RJG Construction Company, Inc

    Archives

    August 2018
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

RJG Construction 
Company Inc.

4225 Valley Fair St. #106
Simi Valley, Ca 93063
Call: 805.526.1384  Fax: 805.526.1385

Services

Underpinning
Helical Anchors
Hillside Restoration
Concrete Slabs
Retaining Walls
Drainage Improvement
Load Testing

Permits
SITEMAP
Picture