Foundation Repair Berkeley
Berkeley structural foundation problems in your house, garage, or commercial building can cause one or more of the following observable symptoms or conditions: (Actual example of a Berkeley foundation repair job is detailed below.)
- floors out of level
- cracks in walls (especially above doors and windows)
- sticking doors
- sticky windows
- cracks in concrete walls
- cracks in brick walls
- crack or cracks in perimeter foundations
- cracks in driveways
Foundation Repair Causes in Berkeley
Structural foundation problems typically found in Berkeley by specialists can be caused by one or more of the following conditions for which repairs may be called for by your architect, engineer, or general contractor:
- Poor drainage problem (wet soaked soil, mud, muddy under house)
- Bad smell in basement or crawlspace caused by mold or mildew
- poor grading
- deficient underpinning or underpinning needs replacment
- earthquake or earthquakes
- land movement or landslide
- failed retaining wall problem
- expansive soil like the clay soil found in the bay area (that expands and contracts with soaking and drying)
- rotting beams
- rotted posts
- wet crawl spaces, where soil is soaked under the home
If you find any of the above on your property, you need a qualified contractor or structural engineer to inspect, and give you a professional estimate, so you can discover the best way to repair or fix the problem at the lowest cost. For your inspections, be sure and choose a foundation repair construction companies, engineering firms, or specialist expert inspectors that specialize in foundation repair work, and can provide the necessary permit or permits. We are a Bluebook listed foundation repair construction company you can rely on.
Heres an example of a foundation repair job we did in Berkeley :
We will install temporary shoring as necessary, and remove and replace the entire perimeter foundation. The new foundation shall conform to the UBC standards for a 2 story home. On top of the new foundation we will secure a pressure treated sill with 5/8 inch anchor bolts. We will cut the bottoms of the existing cripple wall studs as necessary to raise the sill for the appropriate earth wood clearance. We will surround the new foundation with a drainage system that will be pumped to the street.
The drainage system consists of two pipes in a rock filled trench. One is perforated, to collect sub-surface water and the other is non-perforated, to collect water from the roof downspouts. At the upper end or start of the perforated pipe, a clean-out will be provided so the pipe can be tested or cleaned as necessary.
The minimum depth for the perforated pipe will be below the grade of the soil under the house and both the perforated and non-perforated pipe will fall at least 1/8 inch per foot for the total length of the system to the point of discharge.
The perforated pipe will be installed on top of a bed of gravel, two inches deep, with the perforations pointed down. The trench will then be then backfilled with drain rock. The rock we recommend is Class I, Permeable Type A drain rock per the California State Specifications. The drain rock is clean gravel that varies in size from 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
The trench will be a minimum of 12 inches wide. This permits a four inch blanket of rock on each side of the four inch perforated pipe.
We will cut the sidewalk, install a drain pipe under the sidewalk and through the curb to discharge into the gutter, and repair the concrete.
The pump we will use is a high quality 1/3 H.P. 115 volt submersible with a 1 1/4 inch discharge. The performance rating is 42 GPM at a head of 10 feet.
A check valve will be installed in the discharge line to keep water from running back into the sump when the pump turns off. The pump does not pump the sump dry and there will usually be water standing in the bottom.
The installation will be made so that it will be as easy as possible to service or replace the pump when this becomes necessary
We will install blocking as necessary, and install ½ inch plywood shear panels over approximately 80% of the inside face of the existing cripple walls. We will install clips between the existing joists and new shear panels at 32 inch spaces.
We will replace the interior floor supports with a new continuous concrete footing with new sill and bolts.
Whatever foundation repair or structural problem in Berkeley, call Ward Construction for a professional estimate from the experts.
