Saber repairs an apartment complex in San Diego

Challenge

This apartment complex in San Diego, was showing signs of foundation settlement. The property manager had noticed some telltale foundation cracks along the sides of the complex, as well as some sinking concrete. He was worried that the residents would soon become unsafe to live in if the foundation issues were not fixed. He decided to call Saber Geotechnical Construction Solutions to learn more about foundation repair options.

Solution

The Saber Geotechnical Construction Solutions team was able to install steel push piers as well as helical anchors with retrofit brackets on the complexes exterior to stabilize the foundation. The foundation cracks were occurring due to settlement, which is the movement of the property when the topmost underlying soil can no longer support the properties weight. This happens because soil changes over the years - it could be too wet, too dry, or poorly compacted. The push piers combat this settlement because they are driven deep into stable soil or bedrock to prevent further damage and reverse the foundation failure by lifting the property back to their original positions.

Push piers are easy to install and durable because the entire system is made of steel. Soil is excavated to make room for the installation and then steel brackets are installed below and against the properties foundation.  There were areas of the property that also required removal of concrete to place the piers in the proper locations for the best results.  Once the job was completed the concrete areas were re-poured.  Steel piers are hydraulically driven through the bracket to the stable soil and then the properties weight is transferred to competent soil through the piers. The home is then lifted back to its original position, the soil is backfilled, and the complex is permanently stabilized. Now this property manager can sleep soundly knowing the foundation was repaired and his complex along with its occupants are safe!