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/