Julian Construction Offers Slab Foundation Repair

Company Offers Tips to Knowing if Your Slab Foundation Needs Attention and Repair

LOS ANGELES: Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), a construction company in the Los Angeles area that specializes in foundation repair, is offering slab foundation repair to homeowners and commercial building owners in the Los Angeles.

Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre stated “The best solution for concrete slab failure is prevention. When a home foundation cracks or sinks, the damage spreads, cracking drywall, and shifting your doors, windows, and roof. Why do slabs crack or break? The primary reason is water, usually not enough water, or an unequal distribution, causing shifting in the soil under a foundation. The higher the clay content in the soil under your home, the more susceptible the home is to expensive foundation repair, as well as extensive repair in other parts of the home. It's important to spot any sign of failure early and be proactive about it. The longer you wait, the worse the situation gets.”

Julian suggests that the following are some symptoms to look for in determining if you have a broken slab:

• Stretched or buckled linoleum flooring
• Unlevel floors
• Broken floor tiles
• Bumps in carpet
• Cracks around windows and door frames
• Sloping floors
• Domed floors in center of room
• Sticky doors or windows that are difficult to open and close.

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

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Julian Construction Offers House Leveling

Process Brings Houses or Buildings That Have Settled or Tilted Back Up to Level Position

LOS ANGELES: Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), a construction company in the Los Angeles area that specializes in foundation repair, is offering house leveling services to homeowners and commercial building owners in the Los Angeles.

Many homeowners live with sloping floors, doors that won’t open and cracking walls. Most floors can be leveled and returned to their original level position. This work can be completed in a structurally sound manner by a foundation repair professional, making yours a safer home.

Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre stated “One of the questions that needs to be answered is why the house settled or tilted in the first place. This will determine what handling needs to be done. It is quite possible that the original builders failed to compact some soil underneath the foundation and the foundation then settled soon after construction. If so, then theoretically there should not be any more settling. But if your house is built on a "problem soil" such as decaying organic matter or absorbing clay soil, then the settling problem could continue. You will probably see no further settling, but you should have a foundation professional inspect and monitor the situation. In either case, you will probably see cracks in the foundation that are consistent with settling. Raising a house, or just a part of a house, is a serious step. But with an experienced foundation repair professional, a home that has settled or tilted should be able to be brought back to level or near level in most cases.”

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

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House Leveling

by Shawn Kyles

As retrofitting is a science, house leveling is an art. Many homeowners live with sloping floors, doors that won’t open and cracking walls. Most floors can be leveled and returned to their original level position. This work can be completed in a structurally sound manner, making yours a safer home.

One of the questions that needs to be answered is why the house settled or tilted in the first place. This will determine what handling needs to be done. It is quite possible that the original builders failed to compact some soil underneath the foundation and the foundation then settled soon after construction. If so, then theoretically there should not be any more settling.

But if your house is built on a "problem soil" such as decaying organic matter or absorbing clay soil, then the settling problem could continue. You will probably see no further settling, but you should have a foundation professional inspect and monitor the situation. In either case, you will probably see cracks in the foundation that are consistent with settling.

House leveling is the process of restoring your home towards its original level position, when the foundation has shifted. In order to lift your foundation, you must first secure it from further sinking problems.

Concrete piles are often used to secure the foundation of your home. These provide solid bearing to rest your foundation on. Concrete piles, however, do not offer the ability to lift.

Raising a house, or just a part of a house, is a serious step and needs to be done by a company that specializes in foundation repair.

A general rule about leveling houses is that you should raise it by no more than 1/8 inch per day maximum to prevent excessive cracks in drywall or plaster. So your typical lifting job could be done over a two week span to be safe.

Filling:

When all the raising is done, your foundation professional will need to install shims (such as strips of pressure treated plywood) between the mudsill and the foundation. Any wood next to concrete must be pressure treated or preservative treated, to prevent wood rot. Your professional will caulk all the small holes between the filler pieces, to reduce cold air infiltration and bug infestations. Some professionals use mortar to fill this gap, and it may look better from the outside if the filler area is visible.

With an experienced foundation repair professional, a home that has settled or tilted should be able to be brought back to level or near level in most cases.

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Julian Construction Offers Foundation Underpinning

Process Reinforces an Existing Foundation When Needed Due to Home Additions or Soil Settling

Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), a construction company in the Los Angeles area that specializes in foundation repair, is offering foundation underpinning services to homeowners and commercial building owners in the Los Angeles.

In construction, underpinning is the process of strengthening and stabilizing the foundation of an existing home, building or other structure. Underpinning is accomplished by extending the foundation in width or in depth, so that it either rests on a more supportive level of soil, or distributes its load across a wider area. Underpinning may be necessary for any of several reasons:
* The original foundation is simply not strong or stable enough to support the building
* The usage of the building has changed
* The properties of the soil supporting the foundation may have changed or were mis-estimated during the original planning
* The construction of nearby structures has necessitated the excavation of soil supporting existing foundations, thus weakening those foundations
* It is more economical, such as due to land prices, to work on and reinforce the present structure's foundation than to build a new one

Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre stated “There are various reasons for foundation underpinning, including to support the additional loads of a second-story addition. In some cases the existing foundation has settled or rotated at certain points and in other cases the interior configuration is modified, resulting in the removal or change of load-bearing walls. It should be noted that each foundation underpinning is unique and should be designed by a professional engineer or an architect. At Julian Construction we can review plans or obtain the engineering necessary for your project and complete the repair.”

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

 

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Julian Construction Urges Homeowners to Get a Foundation Inspection

Urges Homeowners to Make Sure Their Home is Protected & Prepared for Next Big Earthquake

Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com) is urging homeowners across the U.S. to get a home foundation inspection to ensure their homes are protected from the next big earthquake. The company especially urges California homeowners to get an inspection, since California is "earthquake country," and the up-and-down and side-to-side motion of an earthquake can shake an unbolted house off its foundation, making for a very costly repair job.

Many construction companies, such as Julian Construction, specialize in foundation repair and replacement, earthquake retrofitting and house bolting. Often these companies will offer a free foundation inspection to homeowners.

Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre stated “Our company offers free foundation inspections to homeowners, and many other companies around the country do as well. We urge people to get a foundation inspection so they can have peace of mind and know whether or not their home is protected. You may find that your home is completely protected, or that some relatively inexpensive steps can be taken to protect it. But whatever the cost, it will almost always be cheaper than trying to move your house back onto your foundation if an earthquake does major damage. We also provide 0% financing for those who need to finance their any needed repair or retrofit.”

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

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Signs Your Home Foundation May Need Repair

by Shawn Kyles

Foundation repair is a necessary home improvement project for any homeowner experiencing certain problems. The type of foundation repair needed will be determined by the specific cause of the foundation problems. Here are some of the problems that would indicate that your home foundation needs repair.

Cracked Block Foundation: You may see signs of lateral (sideways) pressure on your basement walls. Stairstep and horizontal cracks in the mortar joints can be a sign of serious movement in the walls.

Cracks in Poured Concrete: This normally occurs during the curing process of concrete, and is a simple repair. However, it may also be a sign of ground settlement when combined with other signs such as windows or doors sticking.

Cracks in Brick Facing: Cracks in the brick facing on the inside or outside of your home can indicate that your foundation has moved. If you notice these cracks, a foundation repair professional should be contacted. Avoid cosmetic repairs of the brick facing prior to determining the cause of cracking.

Chimney Cracking or Leaning: Chimney's are often built on their own foundation footer. Cracking and leaning are signs of movement in this chimney footer, and this should be examined by a foundation professional.

Drywall Cracks: A shifting foundation will cause other damage on the inside of the house. Drywall cracks around door frames and windows are some of the commonest signs.

Sinking Foundation: The separation of the foundation from your house is a sign of serious ground settlement problems. This problem must be corrected quickly.

Uneven Doors or Windows: Gaps between doors and framing are signs of movement in the home. When your foundation has shifted, other areas of the home, such as the doors and windows, will show the effects.

The recommended first step when you notice any of these problems is to have a certified foundation repair contractor inspect your home and foundation. Obtaining a professional opinion on the causes, costs and available solutions is a necessary step in securing your foundation walls. 

When people have their foundation repaired, they often opt to take on other related home repairs at the same time. These services often include such things as earthquake proofing, and the installation of seismic anchor bolts. This will allow you to have all the necessary services done at one time. Many foundation repair companies often financing to make the repair project easier for the homeowner.

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Julian Construction Offers Earthquake Retrofitting to LA Homeowners

Urges Homeowners to Utilize Earthquake Retrofitting to Protect Homes from Earthquake Damage

Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com) is offering earthquake retrofitting services to homeowners in the greater Los Angeles area. An earthquake retrofit is the process of firmly attaching a house to its concrete foundation using foundation plates and anchor bolts. Because California is "earthquake country," the up-and-down and side-to-side motion of an earthquake can shake an unbolted house off its foundation, making for a very costly repair job.

In Southern California, small earthquakes are common. But we also know that the next “big one” could happen at any time, and probably when we least expect it, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The last big Southern California quake was the Northridge Earthquake in January, 1994, which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale, and which caused 72 deaths, 9,000 injuries and $20 billion in damage. Whole apartment buildings and parking structures collapsed.

Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre lists out indicators that an earthquake retrofit is probably necessary for your home: “Homes built before the mid 1980's often lack features that could help to make them earthquake damage resistant. Homes built before World War II may not even be bolted to the foundation at all, or the bolts may be too small and few. A major earthquake could slide such a house right off its foundation. An unreinforced garage with living space above is another possibly dangerous problem. That big garage door opening needs to be reinforced either by a steel frame or by strengthening the walls on either side or it can collapse in an earthquake like a house of cards, along with the living space on top. An unreinforced stone or masonry building definitely needs to be looked at, and is highly susceptible to earthquake damage.”

Julian also listed out some other conditions that could cause problems in an earthquake:

• Two or more stories
• Any support posts, instead of walls
• No foundation, or a block or brick foundation
• An unusual shape
• A location on a steep hill
• Living area over a garage
• A porch that is recessed under a second story
• A neighboring structure touching or almost touching.

Julian Construction offers free home foundation inspections for those who need or want their years of expertise. “Getting your home foundation inspected is the best thing you can do to ensure your home will be as ready as possible for the next earthquake. We also provide 0% financing for those who need to finance their any needed repair or retrofit.” Julian noted.

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

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Does Your Home Need Earthquake Retrofitting?

by Shawn Kyles

In Southern California, small earthquakes are common. But we also know that the next “big one” could happen at any time, and probably when we least expect it, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

The last big Southern California quake was the Northridge Earthquake in January, 1994, which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale, and which caused 72 deaths, 9,000 injuries and $20 billion in damage. Whole apartment buildings and parking structures collapsed.

So what is an earthquake retrofit anyway, and how do you know if your home needs one?

An earthquake retrofitting is the process of firmly attaching a house to its concrete foundation using foundation plates and anchor bolts. Because California is "earthquake country," the up-and-down and side-to-side motion of an earthquake can shake an unbolted house off its foundation, making for a very costly repair job.

Here are some indicators that an earthquake retrofit is probably necessary for your home:

• Homes built before the mid 1980's often lack features that could help to make them earthquake damage resistant.
• Homes built before World War II may not even be bolted to the foundation at all, or the bolts may be too small and few. A major earthquake could slide such a house right off its foundation.
• An unreinforced garage with living space above is another possibly dangerous problem. That big garage door opening needs to be reinforced either by a steel frame or by strengthening the walls on either side or it can collapse in an earthquake like a house of cards, along with the living space on top.
• An unreinforced stone or masonry building definitely needs to be looked at, and is highly susceptible to earthquake damage.

These are some of the more obvious indicators. Here are some other conditions that could cause problems in an earthquake:

• Two or more stories
• Any support posts, instead of walls
• No foundation, or a block or brick foundation
• An unusual shape
• A location on a steep hill
• Living area over a garage
• A porch that is recessed under a second story
• A neighboring structure touching or almost touching.

The best thing to do is get a foundation inspection, which will include looking at the house bolting and seeing if it is adequate and if any other reinforcements are needed in your home. The inspection is usually free and the cost of any house bolting and reinforcements will usually be a lot less than moving your house back onto its foundation if an earthquake causes it to slide off.

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The October 15 Great California Shakeout Earthquake Drill a Great Success

Julian Construction Gives a Shout Out for the Shakeout and its Organizing Force, The Earthquake Country Alliance

Founder of Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), Julian De La Torre, applauds the Great California Shakeout – the largest earthquake drill in US history. “More than 6.8 million people participated in the first statewide earthquake preparedness drill – that’s spectacular.” De La Torre said. “You really have to stand in awe of what the Earthquake Country Alliance has done in California, a state where it can often be a problem getting three people doing the same thing at the same time.”

For Julian Construction, every day is an earthquake preparedness day. Inspection of home foundations for their capacity to withstand earthquakes is one of primary parts of their business. “For all the success we had this year, it goes without saying that there are a lot more people in California than 6.8 million. So we are looking for even greater participation next year – Oct 21, 2010 is the next Great California Shakeout drill.” Julian said.

But there is no need for homeowners and renters to wait a year to prepare. Julian Construction recommends two websites that provide information on do-it-yourself preparedness inspections - Emergency Survival Program’s ‘Is Your Place Safe’ (http://www.scec.org/education/public/espfocus/May_06.pdf) and Earthquake Country Alliance’s Dare to Prepare website http://www.earthquakecountry.info/daretoprepare/secure_your_building.html).

Julian Construction offers free home foundation inspections for those who need or want their years of expertise. “Getting your home foundation inspected is the best thing you can do to ensure your home will be as ready as possible for the next earthquake. We also provide 0% financing for those who need to finance their any needed repair or retrofit.” Julian noted.

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

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JulianConstruction.com: The Great California Shakeout Emergency Drill Oct 15

By Shawn Kyles

Unfortunately you can’t schedule the next earthquake, or where you will happen to be when it happens. Given the large percentage of time spent at home, the odds are that you will be in or around your home when the next one arrives.

But, you can prepare so that in the event of an earthquake, your family and your home will be protected.

That’s the point of the Great California Shakeout earthquake preparedness drill approaching on October 15.

The purpose of the ShakeOut is to help people and organizations get better prepared for major earthquakes, and practice on how to protect ourselves when one happens, whether you are at work, school, or home.

You can find out more about the ShakeOut and sign up to participate at http://www.shakeout.org. 5.2 million people have signed up to participate so far.

The ShakeOut Drill is scheduled for 10:15 AM on October 15, 2009. This means that wherever you are at that moment—at home, at work, at school, anywhere—you should Drop, Cover, and Hold On as if there were a major earthquake occurring at that very moment, and stay in this position for at least 60 seconds.

Drop: That means drop to the floor wherever you are.

Cover: Then take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table.

Hold On: Then hold on to something sturdy until the shaking stops.

There will be no freeway closures, power outages, or other simulated effects of the hypothetical earthquake on October 15.

The ShakeOut is something where participating at work is encouraged. Businesses, organizations, schools, and government agencies can register and have their employees practice the Drop, Cover, and Hold On drill.

Foundation Inspection

Another thing you should do to prepare for a major earthquake is to get the foundation of your home inspected. In many cases homes are not properly secured to the foundation, which means that they can move off the foundation or slightly off the foundation during an earthquake.

If there is a problem with your house not being properly secured to your foundation, the cost will likely be a lot less to fix before an earthquake than after one. So I recommend taking the step of getting a foundation inspection done today. Then if there are no problems, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that. And if there are problems, you can take the steps to correct them.

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The Great California Shakeout Emergency Drill Set for October 15 – Check the Safety of Your Home

Julian Construction Urges Homeowners and Renters to Inspect Their Homes for Earthquake Safety

Founder of Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), Julian De La Torre, knows that you can’t schedule the next earthquake, or where you happen to be when it happens. Given the large percentage of time spent at home, the odds are that you will be in or around your home when the next one arrives. “There are excellent resources on the internet related to earthquake preparation.”  Julian De La Torre says. “Emergency Survival Program’s ‘Is Your Place Safe’ (http://www.scec.org/education/public/espfocus/May_06.pdf) is a great place to start. Earthquake Country Alliance’s Dare to Prepare website (http://www.earthquakecountry.info/daretoprepare/secure_your_building.html) is also very good.”

De La Torre recommends that everyone consult one or both of these sites, then take a look at their residence with an eye to earthquake safety. “Securing the home is one of the major steps Californians can take with the Great California Shakeout earthquake preparedness drill approaching on October 15.” Julian said. “We are happy to inspect anyone’s foundations and let them know what is needed. We also provide 0% financing for those who need to finance any needed repair or retrofit.”

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting and foundation repair since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Mr. De La Torre formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

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The Time to Prepare for Earthquakes is Before It Starts to Shake

Julian Construction Urges Homeowners to Ensure Their Houses Are Properly Secured to Their Foundations

Founder of Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), Julian De La Torre, has repaired or constructed more than 6.600 foundations in California and has seen the full range of foundation problems that can exist in homes. “Here in earthquake country one of the more dangerous conditions can exist at the intersection of the house and its foundation. The up-and-down and side-to-side motions of an earthquake can shake an improperly secured house off its foundation.”  Julian De La Torre says. “Earthquake retrofitting is the process of attaching a house to its concrete foundation using foundation plates and anchor bolts. It is one of our areas of expertise.” 

With the Great California Shakeout earthquake preparedness drill approaching on October 15, homeowners can get a head start by having their foundations checked. The Great California Shakeout is the first statewide earthquake preparedness drill and follows last year’s Great Southern California Shakeout, a great success.

 “We are happy to inspect anyone’s foundations and let them know what is needed. We also provide 0% financing for those who need to finance any needed repair or retrofit.” Julian said.

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

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Heavy California Rainy Season Predicted - Check Your Foundations Now

Julian Construction Urges Homeowners with Indicators of Foundation Problems to Act Before the Rainy Season Starts

Founder of Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), Julian De La Torre, is no expert on El Nino, an accumulation of warm waters in parts of the Pacific Ocean. But he knows that El Nino conditions in the fall usually bring higher than average rainfall to California.  “Saturated earth and drainage problems can worsen existing foundation problems” Julian says. “There is plenty of time to take care of problems now before the rains begin in November or December.”

Windows and doors that won’t open or close properly, cracks in walls and tilting floors are indicators that the foundation needs repair or replacement.  Addressing the needs before the problems develop into safety hazards can save homeowners money and the difficulties of temporary relocation.

“Some homes were built without reinforced concrete foundations which can deteriorate over time. Others have suffered due to drainage problems or earth movement. Many foundations can be repaired rather than replaced, stabilizing the home and making it safe.” Julian said. “We are happy to inspect anyone’s foundations and let them know what is needed. We also provide 0% financing for those who need to finance their foundation repair or replacement.”

Julian De La Torre has been retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. 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.

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How to Tell If Your Home Foundation Needs an Inspection

by Shawn Kyles

The foundation is one of the most important areas of your home. Cracks or other weaknesses in your foundation can cause many problems in your home, and should be addressed quickly.

Some of the signs that you may be having a foundation problem are:

• Windows and doors that won’t open, close or lock properly


• Cracks in walls or ceilings


• Tilting or sloping floors


• Cracks through brick mortar


• Twisted or un-even outdoor siding


• Out-of-square garage doors

Some homes were built without reinforced concrete foundations which can deteriorate over time. Others have suffered due to drainage problems or earth movement. Poor drainage can be a major contributor to increases in soil moisture, causing foundation problems. Rain falling into gutters should be directed away from the house. Gutter downspouts should not release water right next to the foundation. And bad soil problems can cause foundation difficulties even with homes as new as two years old.

Sometimes these problems do not necessarily mean you need a new foundation, but you have breaks in your foundation due to prior earth movement, age or even poor drainage. Left unchecked and uncorrected, these breaks in the foundation and stem wall can lead to additional cost and, in many cases, pose a risk to your structure. Often, the cracks can be repaired simply with a metal strap, epoxy injection or a pad known as an underpin, making yours a safer home.

There are many good reasons for foundation replacement. Some homes were built without a concrete and steel foundation, while others were made of un-reinforced masonry, that of brick or stone. In some cases, the original concrete was made of poor quality materials or has been badly deteriorated over the years. In most cases you can live in your home while a foundation contractor installs your new foundation.

Shawn Kyles is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting, and is a partner in Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) located in Los Angeles. Shawn has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety. 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 its workers under your home. They can be contacted by phone at 323-733-3377. The company’s blog is http://julianconstruction.typepad.com/