Erosion Archives | Page 2 of 2 | Helfrich-Associates

Too Close for Comfort

By Coastal Erosion, Engineering, Erosion, Foundation Stabilization, Landslide Mitigation, Liquefaction Mitigation, Permits, Pool & Patio

Existing Narrow Driveway and Wall

What do you do when the retaining wall along the driveway entrance to your coastal home’s garage is too narrow for your cars? After experiencing constant, annoying collision sensor beeping on your newer vehicle or a scrape on your classic car, you begin to think that something has to be done.

In Southern California’s scenic beach areas, the land is very expensive and this often leads to compromises in home design that sometimes later prove to be impractical. A popular solution is to go skinny and vertical—building two- or three-story homes on narrow lots with the garage at street level. The stunning upper story or roof-top ocean views are a welcome incentive to climb the stairs.… Continue Reading Too Close for Comfort

Vacation Home Dilemma

By Coastal Erosion, Erosion, Foundation Stabilization, Landslide Mitigation, Liquefaction Mitigation, Safety

Photo Source: Randy Jibson, USGS

What do you do when you own a vacant lot with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California? You build a vacation home, of course, but there’s always a complication or two with coastal properties and sometimes it pays to call in an expert at the start of the process.

… Continue Reading Vacation Home Dilemma

The Importance of Research

By Erosion, Foundation Stabilization, Liquefaction Mitigation, Property Damage, Renovations, Structural Damage

Example of exterior wall cracking.

At Helfrich-Associates, we know how important it is to do your research when starting a new project. We were asked to investigate a property located in Los Angeles. The house we visited was originally constructed in 1937 and alterations were performed in 1957 and 2010-2011.… Continue Reading The Importance of Research

Common Signs of Home Damage and Deterioration

By Construction, Engineering, Erosion, Foundation Stabilization, Gentrification Projects, Permits, Property Damage, Property Inspections, Real Estate, Renovations, Rust, Safety, Structural Damage, Termite Damage, Water Intrusion, Wind Damage

Do you know the common signs of home damage and deterioration? It’s important to be aware of changes around your home or property that could be signs of deterioration. These signs could be sagging beams, discoloration on ceilings/walls, cracks in floors & foundations, rust on steel stairs, tipping of retaining walls or slope movement.

Let’s face it, home or property repairs are never fun. They’re costly and time consuming. Most of us want to get them done as quickly and economically as possible. Yet there’s one thing you should never exclude from your project — a consultation with an experienced construction engineer about the signs of home damage.… Continue Reading Common Signs of Home Damage and Deterioration

What Caused the Big Sur Landslide of 2017?

By Coastal Erosion, Engineering, Erosion, Landslide Mitigation

Wondering what caused the Big Sur landslide of 2017? Landslides can be one of nature’s most catastrophic forces. On May 20, 2017 California suffered its biggest landslide since the 1980s. A portion of Highway 1, not far from Big Sur, was buried under 30 to 40 feet of soil and debris. Anything in its path was most likely swept away into the ocean below — altering the iconic coastline for years to come. Luckily nobody was killed, since the portion of the highway affected had been closed off due to smaller, earlier landslides that have been occurring since January 2017.… Continue Reading What Caused the Big Sur Landslide of 2017?

Rain and Slope Stability

By Erosion, Foundation Stabilization, Landslide Mitigation, Safety, Water Intrusion, Wind Damage

In the last several weeks Southern California has received much needed rain, helping to alleviate the state’s drought conditions. It’s critically important to our ecosystem that we get enough rainfall each year. However, it can be devastating to property owners and to public areas, especially if a property is not properly prepared to handle large amounts of it. Areas of concern can range from water intrusion into buildings to unstable slopes becoming mud slides.… Continue Reading Rain and Slope Stability

Oroville Dam Engineering: What Happened?

By Coastal Erosion, Construction, Engineering, Erosion, Landslide Mitigation, Property Damage

The California Department of Water Resources stopped the spillway flow on Thursday morning to allow engineers to evaluate the integrity of the structure after water had been released at 20,000 cubic feet per second through the night.

(Courtesy of the California Department of Water Resources).

Last week California’s Oroville Dam, the tallest dam in the United States, almost failed due to a surplus of water filling Lake Oroville. As the lake filled higher and higher, water was being released, via spillways, into the Feather River. The volume of water caused erosion of the dam’s main spillway, causing it to crater and break apart. As a result, the dam’s emergency spillway began to erode. That spillway had never been used and was unlined. The lack of concrete lining may have led to its erosion as well.

Nearly 200,000 people were evacuated from the area, many of them fleeing to higher ground cities like Sutter. As the water began to recede, residents began to travel back home.

But what went wrong? What caused the damage in the first place?… Continue Reading Oroville Dam Engineering: What Happened?