Wednesday, March 30, 2016

JulianConstruction.com: When Do You Need Helical Piles?

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, Inc., (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, explains the purpose of helical piles and when you may need them.

The purpose of a foundation is to support and spread the weight of the structure that sits on top of it. A foundation can become damaged due to poor soil conditions, moisture and foliage. Foundation problems can lead to cracks in walls and tiles, bowed walls and sloping floors. It can even become difficult to open and shut windows and doors.

Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre stated “One solution to stabilizing foundations is the installation of helical piles, also referred to as screw piles. A helical pile is a steel shaft with blades attached in a spiral pattern, similar to a wood screw. The pile is attached at the foundation on one end, and screwed into the ground on the other. Not only do they stabilize a structure, they can also increase load bearing capacities in a retrofit, which is often needed if you’re planning on structural additions.”

“Think of it like the difference between walking through snow in regular shoes versus wearing snowshoes. In regular shoes you just sink into the snow, but in snowshoes, your weight is spread out over a larger area, stabilizing you and allowing you to walk on top of the snow. For stabilizing foundations or retrofitting to increase load capacity, Helical Piles are installed along the foundation at affected locations. Special brackets are added as needed and secured to the concrete foundation. A pile is then screwed into the soil and connected to each bracket. Tightening the nuts on the vertical bolts of the bracket secures the load,” concluded De La Torre.

Alan, a recent customer stated: “Julian Construction is the only company you should call to retrofit your house. Not only did they do a great job, but they made us feel like we could trust them to make our house safer for the next earthquake. They did so at a very competitive price. The Julian team was here ON TIME (something like 10 guys showed up) and proceeded to complete the job as promised. They also did not want a single penny until the job was completely finished and the permit approved by a city inspector. The clincher was that they are fully insured with liability insurance and workers’ comp.”

Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/ or http://quakeproofers.com/blog/.

JulianConstruction.com: Why is House Bolting So Important?

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, Inc., (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, explains why house bolting is so important in Southern California.

House Bolting is the process of attaching a house to its concrete foundation using foundation plates and anchor bolts. The San Andreas Fault Line runs right through Southern California, making it one of the largest earthquake zones in the US. Homeowners need to be aware that the up-and-down and side-to-side motion of an earthquake can shake an unbolted house off its foundation.

Foundation techniques have been greatly improved in recent years, in order to help prevent damage in the event of an earthquake. But many homes, especially those built in the 1960s or earlier have not had the foundation retrofitted and are still at risk for serious damage.

Earthquakes cause three major types of damage:
  • Sliding: where the home slides partially or completely off of its foundation.
  • Racking: where the cripple walls between the home and foundation partially or fully collapse.
  • Overturning: where the home lifts off of the foundation.
House bolting can help prevent all of the above by securing the home to the cripple walls and then to the foundation itself. Some homes have improperly braced cripple walls which will need to be strengthened, as well as secured to the home and foundation.

Before hiring anyone to start work on your foundation, get a foundation inspection to find out what your home needs.

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “You shouldn’t have to worry about whether your home will be safe in the event of an earthquake. You should be able to rest easy, knowing your home is properly secured to a structurally sound foundation. We can inspect your home to find out what steps are needed to get it there. We offer free foundation inspections, and for those with a higher cripple wall, we can review plans or obtain the engineering necessary for your project.”

Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, http://www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/ or http://quakeproofers.com/blog/.

JulianConstruction.com: Finding the Right Foundation Repair Contractor

By Julian De La Torre

The most important part of your house is its foundation. If it hasn’t been built properly, the entire structure will weaken over time.
Settlement, weather conditions, soil problems and moisture can also cause foundation damage and escalating problems such as wall cracks, sloping floors and bowing walls.

If you have foundation issues, hiring a skilled and experienced foundation repair expert is critical. Also make sure your contractor is licensed, insured and bonded.

California’s Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB) is part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The purpose of the CSLB is to license and regulate the State’s construction industry. This includes ensuring that construction is performed in a safe, competent and professional manner, and the contractor adheres to applicable laws, regulations and standards.

The State of California also requires contractors to have a bond. A Contractor’s Bond provides homeowners with financial protection for home improvement projects.

Once you verify that a potential contractor is licensed and bonded, find out how long he or she has been repairing foundations in your area. A local contractor will have in-depth knowledge of your city’s building codes and familiarity with construction methods in your area, as well as familiarity with regional weather and soil conditions that can harm your foundation.

Experience is another vital factor when choosing a foundation contractor. There can be many ways to repair a foundation. Some jobs can be done in a minimal amount of time, while others will require significant work. An experienced contractor will be able to find the source of the problem and recommend cost-effective solutions that will fix the issue avoiding excessive foundation repair cost.

You should also be given a detailed proposal with the type of work that will be needed, with accurate pricing and no hidden fees, so you will know how much does foundation repair cost before work begins.

Finally, ask for references and call the names you are given to find out if the customer was happy with the work that was done.

Julian De La Torre, expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, repair & house leveling (Los Angeles) and founder of Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) in Los Angeles, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms & local departments of building & safety. The company has done more home foundation repair (Los Angeles) than any other company in the area over the last five years (http://julianconstruction.com/services/). Julian Construction owns its own company and is a "no middlemen" model--no salesmen or subcontractors--you get the principals of the company & its workers under your home. Learn more about Julian Construction at http://quakeproofers.com. See their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I8j7dXzpj4

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

JulianConstruction.com: What Type of Retaining Wall Do You Need?

Julian Construction, Inc., (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, lists 4 of the most commonly used retaining walls and explains when they are used and why.

The following are five of the most common types of retaining walls used for residential landscaping:
  • Gravity Retaining Walls
  • Cantilever Retaining Walls
  • Sheet Pile Retaining Walls
  • Anchored Retaining Walls
Gravity retaining walls rely on sheer gravity to hold back soil and gravel. They are wider at the base than at the top, and do not require complicated engineering. They can be strong, but over time bow outwards if done incorrectly. Due to the necessarily wide base they require a lot of material and don’t work well for walls taller than 4 feet.

Cantilever retaining walls are also wider at the bottom than the top, but they are attached to a steel or concrete base that extends back under the soil they are holding back, thus taking further advantage of gravity and the weight of the soil trying to push them over. They are much stronger than gravity retaining walls.

Sheet pile retaining walls are made with “sheets” of material such as wood, concrete, or steel, that are driven partially into the ground (usually 2/3 underground and 1/3 above).

Anchored retaining walls can be any of the above, but they have additional support in the form of steel cables attached to the retaining wall that are anchored in the soil or rock they are holding back.

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “No two retaining wall projects are the same, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. There are many different types of retaining walls and building materials that can be used- not to mention location and soil makeup. Whether you are looking for an engineered retaining wall or a wall not needing special engineering, Julian Construction can help. We can assist in making the right decision for your home and save you money in the process, handling the project from plan to finished construction.”

Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, http://www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/ and http://earthquakeboltbrace.com/

JulianConstruction.com: Informs California Residents of Quake-Proofing Grants

Julian Construction, Inc., (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, is letting California residents know about government grants that may be available to them to help them retrofit their homes to safeguard against earthquake damage.

A 6.0 earthquake struck Napa, California on August 24th, 2014. The quake left one dead and $700 million in total damages in its wake. Other earthquakes in California have caused billions of dollars in damages. With an estimated mere 17 percent of Californians having earthquake insurance, the financial and personal effects of an earthquake can be devastating.

Starting on January 20th, 2016, homeowners in certain areas of Southern and Northern California can register for a promotional program called the Brace and Bolt program to qualify for up to $3,000 to retrofit their homes. Once they are approved for the program, a homeowner can search the Contractor Directory to find a contractor to perform their home retrofit.

Homes that qualify for the program typically have the following characteristics;
  • Wood-framed construction built before 1979.
  • Built on a level or low slope.
  • Constructed with a 4-foot (or less) cripple wall under the first floor OR
  • Constructed with a cripple wall between 4 feet and 7 feet (requires an engineered solution).
  • Have a raised foundation.
  • Be within one of the 150 zip codes in the program.
Homeowners in the following areas of Southern California are eligible for registration for the Brace and Bolt program California: Los Angeles, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and San Bernadino. Certain parts of Northern California are also eligible for registration. For a full list visit https://www.earthquakebracebolt.com/

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “You shouldn’t have to worry about whether your home will be safe in the event of an earthquake. You should rest easy, knowing your home rests on a structurally sound foundation. We can inspect your home to find out what steps are needed to get it there. We offer free foundation inspections, and for those with a higher cripple wall, we can review plans or obtain the engineering necessary for your project.”

Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/ or http://losangelesfoundationrepair.us/

Foundation Cracks By Julian De La Torre

Over time, a building’s foundation will naturally settle (move downward) into the soil underneath it. Too much settlement can cause foundation problems such as cracking. When cracking occurs from settlement, it can weaken the building’s structure.

Settlement causes different types of foundation cracks, including vertical, horizontal, diagonal and step. The cracking is different than shrinkage cracks, which occur when poured concrete begins to cure.

Excessive settling can result when a building has been improperly constructed, built on poorly compacted soil, or there are frequent changes to the soil’s moisture content.

Water can have a big impact on the soil under a foundation. When the soil becomes wet from rain, sprinklers or water leaks, it will expand and push at the foundation. As the soil starts to dry, it will contract.. As the volume of soil decreases, the foundation will sink into the empty spaces.

The same thing can happen when the moisture in soil is absorbed by the roots of trees and foliage planted near the structure.

Substantial or uneven settlement will put stress on the foundation. The stress will eventually cause cracks to appear. Cracks not only weaken the foundation, they allow water to seep further into the structure.

Foundation cracks can be repaired in many different ways. A common solution is to fill the cracks with a substance that creates a waterproof seal.

If you find cracks in your foundation, ask a foundation repair expert to inspect your property. Some types of cracking, such as lateral displacement cracks, are more serious than others and will need to be addressed by an expert. A foundation repair professional will also be able to tell you what is causing the problem so that it can be addressed as well.

Most importantly, never ignore foundation cracks. Get them fixed as soon as possible to prevent more serious foundation damage.

Julian De La Torre, expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, repair & house bolting (Los Angeles) and founder of Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) in Los Angeles, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms & local departments of building & safety. The company has done more home foundation repair (Los Angeles) than any other company in the area over the last five years (http://losangelesfoundationrepair.us/). Julian Construction owns its own company and is a “no middlemen” model–no salesmen or subcontractors–you get the principals of the company & its workers under your home. See their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I8j7dXzpj4