What Happens When A Car Hits Your Property

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What Happens When A Car Hits Your Property?

What happens when a car hits your property? Image courtesy pixabay.com

A few days ago, I was driving through a neighborhood and I saw a car that had jumped a curb and careened in to a home, knocking out a front window and wall. It’s the kind of vehicle accident that could happen to anyone; cars are big, heavy and easy to lose control of. It reminded me of one of Helfrich-Associates’ current projects. So, what happens when a car hits your property?

Our team was recently called by an insurance company and asked to determine how to temporarily support a building after a vehicle had crashed in to it.… Continue Reading What Happens When A Car Hits Your Property

Case Study: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Berkeley Marina

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Case Study: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Berkeley

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

Case Study: Severe Sewer-Main Blockage

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Manhole Cover

Image of manhole cover courtesy pixabay.com

Sewage backups – they can be one of the most hazardous things that can happen in a place of business or home. Not only can they cause significant health issues for anyone exposed to the area, but they may also cause thousands of dollars in damage to underground piping and any surrounding areas.

In May, 2014 Helfrich-Associates was called in to assess an insurance claim for sewer damage in The City of Burbank, California. The damage occurred when a sewer-main blockage caused sewage to spill onto a commercial property.… Continue Reading Case Study: Severe Sewer-Main Blockage

Warning: Falling Rocks

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Alpine: Photo of Damage

A photograph of the damage from falling rock.

Remember when, at the beginning of the Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, the scene where Indy takes a golden statue off of a pedestal and a giant boulder begins to tumble down a ramp, almost crushing our hero? Well, imagine that boulder at the top of a hill near your property. Now imagine it rolling down the hill, except your home or commercial structure isn’t Indiana Jones, and it can’t escape!

Helfrich-Associates recently was invited to help resolve just such a situation in Alpine, California. … Continue Reading Warning: Falling Rocks

Real Estate Transactions: Making the Right Choices

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Image of a property at sunset.

Image of a property at sunset courtesy of Pixabay.com

If you’ve ever been involved with real estate transactions such as purchasing a property, then you’ve had to engage the services of a realtor or a financial institution. It’s a necessary part of the American dream, as well as the dream of many people across the globe.

Before any property can be purchased it must be put through a complicated series of real estate, legal, and financial reviews. This includes property inspections and disclosure statements. During these procedures, there are many things to look at. Unfortunately, sometimes issues are either missed or concealed in the rush to clear a property for purchase.

… Continue Reading Real Estate Transactions: Making the Right Choices

Get The Facts On Liquefaction Mitigation

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Liquefaction mitigation can help reduce property damage in Long Beach, California.

Liquefaction mitigation can help reduce property damage. Image of Long Beach, California courtesy of Pixabay.com

Since the beginning of civilization people have always wanted to live near bodies of water. As building construction has advanced so has the need for stable structures that can resist the forces of nature. Earthquake-prone regions are particularly difficult to build in. Soil near rivers, as well as areas that are close to the ocean, can lose strength during an earthquake and turn into a soup-like consistency. Among other problems, structures built on top of the unstable soil can settle and tilt.… Continue Reading Get The Facts On Liquefaction Mitigation

A Day In The Life Of Traffic Litigation

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Traffic litigation can be a complex process, especially when involving California roads. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

Traffic litigation can be a complex process, especially when involving California roads. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

There’s no question about it: driving a vehicle takes a lot of concentration. Especially when driving any kind of oversized vehicle, such as a commercial truck. Avoiding other vehicles and pedestrians is just the start. Road conditions, and adjacent areas, can play a large part in safe vehicle operations.… Continue Reading A Day In The Life Of Traffic Litigation

Landslide Mitigation: Overcoming the Risk

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

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

World of Concrete 2015: Our Impressions

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As seen at World of Concrete 2015. A unique sample of a concrete wall.

As seen at World of Concrete 2015. A unique sample of a concrete wall.

Did you make it to this year’s World of Concrete? The World of Concrete event is the third largest convention in Las Vegas, after NASCAR and the Bull Riders Association, with more than 50,000 attendees and 1,300 exhibitors. At this year’s World of Concrete there were two outdoor exhibit areas with heavy construction equipment (including test drives for novices), concrete demolition demonstrations, concrete slab finishing, and concrete sculptures and artwork.… Continue Reading World of Concrete 2015: Our Impressions

California’s Economy, the Construction Industry & 2015

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California's economy is still recovering from the recession. Image Courtesy Pixabay.com

California’s economy is still recovering from the recession. Image Courtesy Pixabay.com

Leta and I recently attended the 2015 U.S. and Inland Empire Economic Forecast. Dr. Esmael Adibi, a renowned economist and advisor to California leaders, presented his annual forecast for the state’s economy. The event was sponsored by many groups and companies active in the construction industry, including homebuilders, engineering firms, and construction products manufacturers.

This was a great event that provided some clear insight on what’s in store for 2015 when it comes to California’s economy and its growth as it pertains to our industry.… Continue Reading California’s Economy, the Construction Industry & 2015