Cold Weather, Foundation Problems, and You

Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, explains some of the home foundation problems that can arise from cold weather, and what you can do about it.

There are a number of foundation problems that can crop up when the mercury dips. Here are a few you can look out for to help prevent problems from forming and recognize any that already have.

Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction, stated “Cold weather can cause your foundation to crack, even if the temperature is above freezing. Damage can be caused by temperatures as high as 40 degrees if it stays that cold for three or more days. Cracks in your home’s foundation can let water in, and water is the most damaging element to a foundation. If moisture gets into your foundation it can cause more cracks and many other types of damage.”

“Winter rains will also cause the soil to expand. The expansion underneath your foundation can propel a foundation upwards, which is called heave. If your home is built on soil that retains a lot of water, the damage that soil expansion can cause to your home can be extensive. If frost develops in the soil, it will increase its volume, which can also heave the foundation. When the frost thaws, suction is created that draws in more water. Constant freezing and thawing creates uneven foundation pressure as well as foundation shifts.”

“Take a walk around your house and check for cracks in drywall, cracking and or peeling paint and wallpaper, gaps between floors and walls, gaps in door or window frames, and doors that are sagging and sticking in their frames. If you find any of the above you should schedule an appointment with a foundation repair specialist to check for foundation issues that could lead to trouble.”

“It is a positive thing to know that with these different foundation problems, each has a different way to recognize it. When you know that, you can be more alert to the problem, and you are more knowledgeable when it occurs as to what is happening. You know when a problem is serious or not, because different cracks will tell you what kind of foundation problem you are looking at. And a trained foundation specialist will be able to spot the source of the problem right away so it can be completely handled,” concluded De La Torre.

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/

Julian Construction Offers Soft-Story Retrofitting in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Makes Soft Story Retrofitting Mandatory for Wood-Frame Structures

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, Inc., (http://www.julianconstruction.com/), a foundation construction and foundation repair company in the Los Angeles area, is now offering soft-story building retrofitting, which is now mandatory for wood-frame soft story buildings within the city of Los Angeles.

A soft-story building is a multi-story structure where the ground floor has unsupported floors above it, due to a wide front window or other wide section of the second floor with no supporting beam under it. The most common type of soft-story building is an apartment building built with the second story over an open parking area. Other types include retail businesses with large windows, as well as multi-level commercial structures with floors that have large spaces, windows and doors. Soft-story buildings are much more likely to collapse during an earthquake, and so are especially dangerous in areas of high seismic activity like Los Angeles.

The City of Los Angeles recently passed an Ordinance requiring the retrofit of all wood-frame Soft-Story buildings

If you own a soft-story building- especially an older wood-frame building, contact a local construction company to schedule an inspection consultation. The structural stability of your building and the safety of its occupants and users is extremely important, especially in areas of high seismic activity like Los Angeles.

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “No two soft-story retrofitting projects are the same and so there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Ideally, we consider several factors to determine the best way to approach the project to get the building to meet the structural standards of retrofitted soft-story buildings, while also having a minimal impact on the function and use of the building. We see these kinds of soft story buildings every day. Fortunately much more is known about the risks involved with this type of design now, so buildings today are built much more securely. But with older buildings, it is important to know the risks involved with soft story structural issues.”

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/

JulianConstruction.com: Bolting Mudsills to a Cement Foundation

By Julian De La Torre

Do you know if your house is bolted to the foundation? Bolting is a type of seismic retrofitting that secures a home’s mudsill to its concrete foundation. Mudsill is the horizontal wood that sits on top of the foundation. It is the bottom of an exterior wall that connects the frame of the house to the footing.

Mudsills that aren’t connected to the foundation (or poorly connected) will start to move during a quake, along with the walls they are attached to. This motion can cause gas lines to break and electrical wires to pull out. Floors can also be damaged. If the shaking is severe, the entire building may end up collapsing.

When the mudsill is properly bolted to the concrete, it prevents the home from slipping and sliding during seismic activity.

Bolting a home to its foundation became a Uniform Building Code requirement in 1949. However, it took almost 10 years for local government to implement the code. Consequently, most homes built before 1960 have not been bolted to their foundations. Without bolting, an earthquake can shake the home off of its foundation.

You can check to see if your home’s mudsill has been bolted by going into your crawl space or basement and looking for thick bolts across the top of the sill. You should see bolts every 4 to 6 feet. There should also be steel anchor plates connecting the edge of the sill to the foundation’s side.

If you find any rusted bolts, they will need to be replaced. Rusted bolts are more common in moisture-prone areas.

Also look for recessed bolts. When the foundation is poured and bolts aren’t sticking up high enough, the mudsill around the bolt needs to be chiseled to get the nut on. This can make it difficult to tighten the nuts and virtually impossible for any anchor plates to be installed. Recessed bolts should be replaced.

An important point regarding bolting is the depth of penetration into the concrete. There are minimum and standard depth requirements depending on the type of anchor bolts being used.
Replacing bolts can be difficult because of the tight space. A foundation repair expert will know which bolts need to be replaced in addition to having all of the tools that will be needed to get the job done right.

Bolting is only one part of the retrofitting process. Even homes that are bolted can suffer severe damage from a quake if the cripple walls haven’t been braced properly. The cripple wall is the short wall between the first floor and the foundation. Cripple walls need reinforcement with sturdy materials like plywood. Stucco and wood siding does not provide enough support for the walls.

The best way to find out if your home is properly bolted, is to contact a foundation contractor, a specialist in this area, and ask for a free inspection. Getting help from a foundation repair (Los Angeles) expert will save you time, money and potential damage from the next big quake.


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://julianconstruction.com/about/ ). 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

Recognizing Signs of Roof Damage

Los Angeles Contractor Shares Warning Signs of Roof Damage and What You Can Do About It.

Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, has compiled a checklist that you can use to tell if you have any roof damage issues. If you notice any of the items mentioned, you should contact a roofing contractor to schedule an inspection.

Cold weather brings with it an increase in risk factors for roof damage including; rain, falling leaves, and freezing temperatures. The maintenance and regular inspection of your roof will help protect against roof leaks and their effects, such as dry rot and mold.
Keep an eye out for these warning signs:

• Missing, loose, or warped roof tiles or shingles which leave the underlying roof materials exposed and prone to damage
• Leaks around chimneys, skylights, or air vents, which can be an indication of damaged or improperly installed flashing.
• Clogged gutters which can cause water damage from overflow
• Roof leaks are especially serious and should be immediately addressed to prevent dry rot and mold.

If you notice any of the above signs of roof damage, call a qualified construction company near you to perform roof inspections and whatever type of roof repair you may need. Don’t worry if the weather has already gotten overcast and rainy, roofs can be repaired or replaced at any time, even in wet weather.

Julian De La Torre of Julian Construction, stated: “Having your roof regularly inspected by a professional contractor is an important part of the home maintenance process. When roof problems are detected early, not only will the repairs usually be less costly, it can help prevent other types of damage to your home. Roof repairs can be done very easily at any time of the year when overseen by a competent construction company.”

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/

How to Tell If Your Foundation is in Need of Repairs

Los Angeles Foundation Contractor shares warning signs of foundation damage

Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, has compiled a checklist that you can use to walk around your house with, to tell if you have any foundation damage issues. If you notice any of the items mentioned, you should contact a foundation contractor to schedule an inspection.

As a homeowner, it can be difficult to tell when something is wrong with your foundation, especially since the early warning signs can be subtle. However, a damaged foundation is very dangerous and it is important to have it inspected regularly to catch and repair damage before it has a chance to get worse.

• Doors and windows that have shifted and don’t open and close properly. This can be a sign that your foundation has settled.
• Cracks on the outside of your home- especially diagonal ones. If they are small it could be a cosmetic issue, but large cracks are often a sign of a larger problem.
• Nails that have popped out from the wall, indicating that the drywall may be bowing inward or outward.
• Sloping floors. If the floor is gradually sloping less than an inch across the whole foundation, it might not be an issue. However, if your floor has a height difference of more than an inch over 15-20 feet, it is more likely the foundation settling or shifting.
• Gaps between the caulking on windows and doors. This is usually caused by the foundation shifting.
• Patios that have pulled away from your home. This is a sure sign of a shifting or sinking foundation.
  Wallpaper that has wrinkled or creased. This can be caused by a sinking or shifting foundation, which in turn, causes the walls to shift.
• Sunken floors or foundation. If you notice the ground around your foundation sinking, you could have a big foundation issue on your hands, call for an inspection right away.

If you encounter any of the above problems, you don’t necessarily need to replace your foundation. It is often possible to repair smaller issues and cracks with a strap, epoxy injection or a pad known as an underpin, halting the damage and strengthening your foundation for a safer home.

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “Keeping your home’s foundation in good repair is so important, it’s the first thing we look at when we go to a home with structural problems. And maintaining the foundation will prevent more serious problems from occurring in the future. Always get your home inspected on a regular basis. It’s important for the safety of your home.”

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 Los Angeles foundation repair on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/

Julian Construction Warns of the Dangers Of Poor Drainage and Cold, Wet Weather

Drainage Problems, Mold, and Foundation Cracks- Are You At Risk?

Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, is warning the public of some of the home foundation problems that can arise from wet weather, and what you can do about it.
As the weather gets cooler and wetter, the risk for indoor mold and foundation cracking increases. The maintenance and installation of proper drainage systems surrounding your home provide a safeguard against the effects of water accumulation and flooding during the rainy season.

Be on the look-out for signs of drainage problems, as a potential threat to the foundation of your home. There is a list below of indicators of drainage problems. If you encounter any of them on your property, contact an experienced foundation contractor near you for help resolving the issues.

 Water pooling in a yard
 Rainwater accumulating on a rooftop
 Moisture seeping into a house
 Foundation cracks
 Mold, mildew, or a damp musty smell

In addition to water damage that can be caused by any of the above problems (including drywall damage, mold, and mildew), foundation damage can also occur if the problem is not corrected early enough. When water seeps into the soil underneath a foundation, it can cause the soil to expand and lift the foundation, resulting in foundation cracks. When the soil dries, the foundation will settle.

Constant expansion and contraction will increase and worsen structural damage. Water can also create foundation cracks and make any existing fissures larger.

A qualified construction company can install a drainage system to avoid mold and foundation problems from poor drainage.

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “It’s vital to make sure that water is being drained away from your home properly. If it is not draining properly, and is pooling near the house, you are at risk of foundation damage. If you suspect you have a problem, get an experienced foundation expert out to inspect your home.”

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/

JulianConstruction.com: Common Types of Anchor Bolts Used in House Bolting

By Julian De La Torre

Over the years we have learned the effect seismic activity has on a building and how to minimize the impact of a quake.

Earthquakes can cause a building to slide, shift off of its foundation and overturn. They can also buckle cripple walls, causing them to collapse.

House bolting is also called foundation bolting, anchor bolting, or seismic retrofitting. The purpose of house bolting is to make the structure safer and prevent damage during an earthquake. The bolts strengthen the wood frame by connecting it securely to the foundation. The two types of bolts commonly used in house bolting are epoxy foundation bolts and expansion foundation bolts.

If you live in an older home, an epoxy-set foundation bolt will be your best option. Older homes tend to have weaker concrete. Epoxy bolts are longer than expansion foundation bolts, which means they must be inserted deeper into the concrete. The deeper insertion improves the bolt’s performance.

Epoxy bolts are also a good choice in locations where the motion of a quake can lift up the structure. Because of the length of the bolt, the chances of the wood frame pulling away from the concrete foundation is reduced.

Expansion foundation bolts are best used with foundation concrete that is in good shape, such as concrete in a new home or a new foundation in an older home. This is because the bolt requires “strong concrete” to be effective. The bolts can be used as long as they don’t crack the concrete.

Anchor bolts need to be installed with square plate washers. The washers create a sturdier and more secure connection to the foundation. Before square plate washers came into use, the bolts were secured with round washers. However, round washers did not have enough holding strength.

Sometimes other types of anchors may be necessary, depending on whether or not the home has cripple walls. Homes can also have a combination of cripple walls and places where the floor rests on the foundation.

To find out if your house needs bolting, go down into your home’s crawl space. The crawl space is the area between the foundation and the first floor. Find the sill plate, which is the board located on top of the foundation. Most but not all sill plates are made of lumber. The board runs horizontal to the vertical wall.

Inspect the sill plate for the head of anchor bolts. In most cases they will appear every four to six feet.
Many homes built during and after the late 1930’s will have some form of house bolting (Los Angeles and other earthquake-prone cities especially). Check to see if any existing bolts have become weak, or are set to far apart to provide the support needed in a quake.

Any work that gets done to strengthen the structure of your home needs to meet current standards. A foundation repair expert or foundation contractor should be consulted to determine if any existing bolting needs to be replaced, and the extent of any new bolting that may be necessary.


Julian De La Torre, expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, repair & house bolting 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 work than any other company in the Los Angeles area over the last five years (http://julianconstruction.com/about/ ). 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