Structural Work for Houses on Grades
Foundations, retaining walls and framing are what keep a hillside house where it is. We assess them with an engineer, then repair or build them.
Foundations and caissons
Cracked footings, settled corners and slabs that have moved are repaired or replaced to the engineer's design. Where the surface soil is weak, drilled caissons and grade beams carry the load down to firmer ground.
Retaining walls
A wall that holds back a slope needs a footing sized for the soil, a drain behind it and backfill that lets water out. We build new walls and replace failing ones, in concrete, block or soldier piles as the design calls for.
Framing and seismic work
Rotted sills, cut joists, sagging beams and unbraced cripple walls are repaired and strengthened. Where the house is not bolted and braced to its foundation, that work is part of the scope.
Structural Work: questions
Doors that start to stick, new diagonal cracks at windows, gaps at baseboards, a leaning retaining wall or water seeping at the base of a slope. Any of these is worth an engineer's look.
For foundations, retaining walls and most framing repairs, yes. We coordinate the engineer and build to the stamped design.
After the assessment, by item: each caisson, each run of wall, each beam. The scope shows the quantities so you can follow the math.
Worried about the foundation or a wall?
Describe what you are seeing and where it is on the lot. We will arrange a visit, and an engineer's review if it needs one.