Julian Construction Say Winter Rains Can Increase Drainage Problems

LOS ANGELES - Southern California construction and foundation repair expert Juan De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), says homeowners should be on the alert for increased drainage problems from this year’s winter rains. When rainwater isn’t able to drain properly, it can cause damage to a home’s walls, basement and foundation.

“Poor drainage can lead to water collecting on roofs, as well as pooling and soggy lawns,” says Julian. “If these conditions aren’t corrected, they can result in costly home repairs and other unanticipated expenses.”

Rainwater will accumulate on rooftops and overflow down walls when gutters and downspouts are clogged. The water produces moisture in the house, which can cause mildew and mold. It can also seep into the ground and penetrate cracks in the foundation.

“Gutters and downspouts need regular maintenance and cleaning to remove leaves, twigs and other debris,” say Julian. “In addition keeping downspouts cleared, they should be mounted and angled to release water several feet away from the house.”

Water pooling and soggy lawns can occur with certain types of soil that retain moisture, or when water on a high elevation drains to property at a lower level. Severe basement and foundation issues can occur from water pooling near a structure. Julian recommends installing drains to help direct the water to another location.

Excessive moisture can also make any clay-based soil swell. Expanding soil can lift up and crack a foundation. When it dries, it will contract, which triggering even more structural troubles.

“Drainage problems need to be fixed quickly to prevent water from making its way into the house and weakening the foundation.” says Julian.

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

 

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Julian Construction Offers 50% Off Winter Special on Foundation Replacement Services

Foundation Repair Process Strengthens and Stabilizes Foundations

 

LOS ANGELES – Julian Construction, a Los Angeles based construction company that specializes in foundation repair and construction, announced a 50% off Winter Special on foundation replacement services.

Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction, stated “We’re offering this 50% off Winter Special to make it easier for people who need to replace their foundation. There are many good reasons a home or other building would need 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 Julian Construction, Inc. installs your new foundation, and we also offer 0% interest, if you need to finance your replacement.”

Right now Julian Construction is offering the Winter Foundation Replacement Internet-Only Special of 50% Off, for a limited time. This includes all permits, engineering, and fixing any stucco and siding. And Free Floor Leveling is included. Julian can complete the work in two weeks.

Julian Construction is a Southern California leader in earthquake retrofitting and foundation repair. Founder and retrofit expert Julian, along with his partner Shawn Kyles, an expert in foundation repair and house bolting, have retrofitted more than 6,600 homes, apartments and commercial properties since the early 1990s.

The company, which is dedicated to building preservation and security, offers a wide variety of services designed to address individual structural needs. Julian Construction’s “no middlemen” (no salesmen, no subcontractors) business model, insures high 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.

 

 

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

The Importance of Earthquake Retrofitting

By Shawn Kyles

In southern California it is vital to consider the dangers of earthquakes. In order to prevent or minimize damage to a home during an earthquake, and prevent the possibility of the need for foundation replacement, it is important to consider earthquake retrofitting.

About fifty years ago, buildings were mainly designed architecturally to endure one type of load, namely gravity. That means an up-and-down pressure or motion.

In the recent years, however, it has been more widely recognized that most earthquakes create pressures on a structure moving from side to side. This creates, as engineers define it, a lateral load. Thus, older buildings that were originally designed only to adequately support gravity loads may actually collapse as a result of the lateral pressure of an earthquake.

As a result, during an earthquake, older warehouses or houses that are built out of brick and have thick walls and massive beams can be reduced to debris in seconds. But buildings that were built from wood frame are generally much more able to withstand lateral forces, because of their flexibility and the fact that they are able to move from side to side or up and down.

The idea of seismic retrofitting is not really complicated. A foundation expert bolts the house to the foundation, adds plywood to support any structurally weak walls, and then uses special hardware to bind those components together.

The idea here is to transfer forces of the earthquake to the foundation. A building that is properly joined together and then secured firmly to its foundation is less likely to collapse or slip off of its foundation.

Engineers and seismologists agree that seismic retrofitting, when done properly, will significantly reduce potential destruction from a major earthquake. And it will help avoid the chances of needing foundation replacement.

The concept may be simple, but rendering it is very technical. This is not an area of “do-it-yourself.” It is best to hire a contractor who is an expert in earthquake retrofitting, and foundation repair and construction. A competent foundation repair expert will know which areas need to be bolted and strengthened.

The most optimum thing you can do as the homeowner is obtain a better understanding of the retrofit process so that you can ask appropriate questions and select the contractor that will perform the best job for you.

The fact is, that for majority of people the home represents the greatest part of a family’s net worth (though that value has taken a hit in recent years). Most earthquake probability studies indicate that much of this net worth may be in danger if the home is not retrofitted properly.

Most foundation repair contractors will offer a foundation inspection, so you can find out the status of your home and its foundation and find greater peace of mind.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Julian Construction Expands Its Headquarters

LOS ANGELES: Julian de La Torre, founder of Julian Construction, which specializes in House Bolting, Foundation Replacement, and Floor Leveling in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Burbank and all cities in between was proud when he expanded his headquarters to a large commercial building with a sizable material yard in Los Angeles.

Julian stated "This allowed us to buy more material and pass the savings on to the customer. It makes sense, if you buy material in larger quantities, then you can bring better prices to the marketplace. In order to do this you have to have a place to store the lumber and hardware.”

That was 2005, since then Julian has maintained the best price available in the Foundation business. They even guarantee it in writing. While some contractors price work on maximums, Julian looks at what is necessary in order to earn the business.

“We specialize in House Bolting, Foundation Replacement and Foundation Repair, areas of the structure that are not typically viewed by the consumer, but are the most important. It’s simple. We want to fix foundations, and to do that we have to earn the business. In order to have the workers and material to the job site on time, we needed a material yard. Some foundation contractors work out of their garage, a small office, or even a PO Box. They pick up material on the way to the job site. We did not want to be like that. I wanted the guys to be on time, not show up late, and get there with the right material,” said Julian

Julian Construction is here for the long haul, which means its customers can find them right at the corner of Jefferson and 9^th Street in the City of Los Angeles.

“Our foundation customers know we are not a paper contractor, one look at our yard will tell them that! I love the internet, but with it comes some dangers. A contractor can seem competent because he has to a nice web site, but in reality he just subcontracts the work out. Julian Construction completes all the work under the home without the use of subcontractors, which also saves the consumer money, and insures the quality of work. There are some other good companies out there, I know we are the best, that’s why I put my name on the door. Julian Construction will quake-proof your home, and you can find us at 2900 W. Jefferson Blvd in the heart of Los Angeles, on the web at www.julianconstruction.com, or by phone at 323-733-3377,” concluded Julian.

 

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Julian Construction Says Homeowners Need to Prepare for "The Big One"

LOS ANGELES - Southern California construction and foundation repair experts Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com) say homeowners need to prepare for the next major earthquake which, according to a new study by US researchers, could happen at any time.

“It’s not a question of “if” California will be hit by a major quake, but when,” say Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre.

Julian points to a study released in September by geologists at the University of California Irvine and Arizona State University, in which scientists concluded that large quakes strike the San Andreas fault every 45 to 144 years.

“The last big quake in California was in 1857 – over 150 years ago,” says Julian. “We are actually overdue for a major quake and we need to be prepared.”

It is estimated that a large earthquake in the region could cause between 2,000 – 50,000 people to lose their lives, and result in billions of dollars in damage.

Julian recommends Southern California residents take advantage of disaster preparedness programs offered by groups such as California Volunteers and the American Red Cross. He also suggests residents have their homes inspected for “earthquake readiness.”

“The motion of an earthquake can shake a house off of its foundation,” says Julian. “Earthquake retrofitting can prevent homes from falling down or from experiencing major damage during seismic activity.”

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, 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

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Broken Foundation Slabs Can Be Repaired Says Julian Construction

Company Says Homeowners Can Save Money on Repair vs. Replacement

LOS ANGELES - Southern California foundation repair experts Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), advise homeowners that in many cases broken concrete slab foundations can be repaired, saving property owners thousands of dollars in replacement costs.

“Simple cracks, and even more extensive foundation damage can usually be repaired,” says Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction. “In either case, homeowners can save money by repairing broken slab foundations if the situation is detected early enough.”

Julian says cracked or broken slabs can be caused by shrinkage from water damage, foundation settlement, and poor soil preparation during construction. He recommends homeowners get a thorough foundation inspection if any of the following problems are observed:

• 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.

“Professional foundation inspections are a homeowner’s first line of defense in preventing foundation damage,” says Julian. “The longer you wait to identify and handle a foundation problem, the worse it gets - and the more money it will cost to fix it.”

Julian De La Torre has been doing foundation repair and 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.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Checklist for Diagnosing Foundation Problems

By Shawn Kyles

Early identification and repair of foundation problems can save you money by preventing more extensive damage and, in worst case scenarios, building collapse. 

There are many factors that contribute to foundation failure, some visible and some not.  Any foundation inspection should take into consideration movement history, environmental conditions, evidence of cracking and other physical manifestations of problems, as well as soil composition.

Here is a checklist for diagnosing foundation problems:

1. Uneven or slopping floors. One of the most common indicators of foundation problems.

2. Wall cracks. When cracks are wider at the top than bottom, it is usually a sign of foundation settlement.  Exterior wall cracks that run diagonally along joints can also indicate problems.

3. Wall separation. Walls that are separating from windows, doors, garage doors, floors and ceilings are often evidence of foundation problems. 

4. Wall bulging. Any masonry walls that bulge above the ground are dangerous and could result in structural failure.

5. Wall rotation. Settling can cause walls to rotate outward as the structure sinks.

6. Nail Popping. Nails can pop out of sheetrock or gypsum walls when there is a foundation settlement program.

7. Floor and foundation cracks.

8. Doors and windows that don’t open properly.

9. Weak Soil.  A foundation can sink when it is built on weak soil.

10. Leaning chimneys.

11. Poor Soil Compaction. Many houses are built using fill soils.  If the soil isn’t properly compacted, it can cause structure settlement.

12. Excessive Soil Moisture. Typically caused by poor drainage and water leaks, moisture can soften soil.  Settlement damage occurs when the soil can no longer support the weight of the structure.

13. Soil Consolidation. The weight of a structure can cause additional soil compression and settlement after the house has been built.

Also look out for:

* Poor drainage and leaking roofs – causes water puddles to form around the house weakening the soil.
* Large trees and shrubs growing near the structure – roots will draw moisture from the soil beneath the foundation.
* Roads, streets and driveways that expand in the heat and push against foundation walls.

Diagnosing foundation problems can require help from an expert to really understand what is causing the situation and how to fix it. If you have any doubts or concerns about your foundation, contact a specialist and ask for an inspection. Any foundation issues should be handled quickly to avoid more severe problems.

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 offer financing to make the repair project easier for the homeowner.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous