Foundation Stabilization Archives | Page 4 of 4

Weather Watch: El Niño And Slope Stability

By Foundation Stabilization, Landslide Mitigation, Property Damage, Water Intrusion

Hurricane image courtesy pixabay.com

As we get closer to California’s rainy season, which is usually between November and March, meteorologists are warning of a record-breaking El Niño. El Niño is a warm weather pattern that can cause heavy rain in the Pacific Ocean and surrounding land masses, such as the Pacific Rim countries, including portions of the Western United States.

Over the last six months, California has experienced several major rainstorms. While this has been great for our rain-deprived residents, it’s wreaked havoc on the parched landscape created by the state’s record drought. In fact, the drought has caused the soils to dry out, leading to surface cracks that will fill with rainwater.… Continue Reading Weather Watch: El Niño And Slope Stability

Keeping Up With HOA Maintenance

By Foundation Stabilization, HOA Maintenance, Homeowner Associations (HOA), Property Damage, Property Inspections, Water Intrusion

HOA Maintenance Image Courtesy Pixabay.com

When you live in a Homeowner’s Association (HOA), you get some great perks, such as an HOA maintenance team. Some associations also boast parks and pools, full-service yard care. The maintenance teams usually keep those facilities in great condition. If you’re not familiar with how these associations can afford offer these benefits, they typically collect a monthly fee from all residents within the association. Usually agreement to pay these fees is a prerequisite to purchasing a home within the association’s communities.

HOA’s often include homes or condominiums in their communities. We’ve recently been working with condo-based associations that are having difficulties with keeping up their HOA maintenance programs.… Continue Reading Keeping Up With HOA Maintenance

Case Study: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Berkeley Marina

By Construction, Foundation Stabilization, Liquefaction Mitigation, Property Damage, Property Inspections

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Berkeley.

This week we’ll be covering our latest case study. In early 2011 Helfrich-Associates was asked to examine a hotel in the city of Berkeley and evaluate the structural integrity of a portion of the hotel.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Berkeley Marina is located less than 5 miles from Emeryville and only 20 minutes from Oakland International Airport. The hotel is situated on Berkeley Marina.

The hotel, built in the 1970s, had a building that was suffering from titling due to uneven soil conditions. The building in question, number three (3), was built on a 12-inch thick, reinforced mat foundation that was not sufficient to deal with the settling of soft soils. As a result the building had tilted more than 20 inches.… Continue Reading Case Study: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Berkeley Marina

Landslide Mitigation: Overcoming the Risk

By Construction, Foundation Stabilization, Landslide Mitigation, Water Intrusion

Landslide mitigation can help in areas prone to landslides, such as in Malibu, California. Image Courtesy Pixabay.com

The city of Malibu is one of California’s most beautiful coastal destinations. Located along the famed Pacific Coast Highway, the area is framed by the Pacific Ocean as well as the Santa Monica Mountains.

While coastal zones and properties are highly desirable, they can be difficult to build on. In part, this is due to erosion, rainfall, soil composition, and poor grading. Malibu has steep, clay slopes that are prone to landslides.… Continue Reading Landslide Mitigation: Overcoming the Risk

Rainfall – The Good and the Bad

By Foundation Stabilization, Water Intrusion

Rainfall image courtesy pixabay.com

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 Rainfall – The Good and the Bad

Push Piers v. Helical Piers in Expansive Soils

By Foundation Stabilization

Building foundation image courtesy pixabay.com.

Push piers and helical piers are commonly used to level and stabilize foundations that have experienced movement. Although both types of piers can be used to lift foundations that have experienced settlement, only helical piers can withstand uplift forces which can occur in expansive soils. A detailed investigation of soil moisture conditions and expected changes in the future is required to determine the possibility of future uplift. If uplift is expected then helical piers are a better solution than push piers.… Continue Reading Push Piers v. Helical Piers in Expansive Soils