Los Angeles Seismic Retrofit Program Cost Recovery Guide for Apartment Owners Earthquake, Foundation Repair Methods, Seismic Retrofitting, Signs of Foundation Problems, Types of Foundations, ,
14
Aug 2017


This program caters to the Tenant Habitability Plan & Cost Recovery Guide for Property Owners. Foundation Technology informs its customers that we work along with these programs and encourage you to facilitate these programs that have been made to make things easier.

How the Program Works:
• Up to 50% of total seismic retrofit costs may
be passed through to tenants, if approved by
HCIDLA.
• The maximum rent increase is $38 per month
for 120 months. The recovery period may be
extended until the full approved amount is
collected.
• Seismic retrofit costs are divided among all
the units.

Foundation Technology Offers Seismic Retrofitting As A Service
Foundation Technology is the leader in Seismic retrofitting. Seismic Retrofits involves modifying existing structures, so that they are more resistant to seismic activity.

Contact Foundation Technology Today
To learn more about Foundation Technology and the services we offer Visit us online at: <ahref=”https://foundationtechnology.com/”>https://foundationtechnology.com/ or call: 855.650.2211

For more information kindly download full article in PDF format.

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Guide to Proper Abandonment of Un-used Septic Tanks Signs of Foundation Problems, Types of Foundations, Uncategorized, ,
09
Apr 2017

Safety Concerns in Abandoning Septic Systems, Seepage Pits, Cesspools, Drywells, even dug wells

Septic tanks, cesspools, and drywells present serious hazards including septic cave-in’s or collapses, methane gas explosion hazards, and asphyxiation hazards. Simple precautions which we describe here can help avoid a dangerous septic, cesspool, or drywell hazard.

In addition to having been consulted in fatalities involving humans, we have learned that falling into septic tanks and cesspools is a risk for animals as well. Readers should also see specific warnings about cesspools
at CESSPOOL SAFETY.

Watch out: for unsafe septic tanks and cesspools or drywells and for systems that were not properly abandoned. In 2008 Mark Cramer shared a report from an owner that that their horse fell into a septic tank and died tragically before it could be rescued.

The collapsing septic tank was not in the location which the owners thought it would be found, and clearly it had an unsafe cover. We were consulted in a Long Island death of an adult who fell into and was buried in a collapsing cesspool. And in 2012 we were contacted for comment involving the death of two boys who fell into and perished in an “abandoned” septic tank or cesspool that lacked a safe cover.
See SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY.

It is important to properly abandon un-used septic tanks, cesspools, or drywells. If an old septic tank, cesspool, or drywell is simply “left alone” there may be very serious cave-in or fall-in safety hazards.

Septic tank, drywell, or cesspool abandonment or tank closure may involve complete tank removal, tank crushing (steel septic tanks), or most common with site-built tanks/cesspools/drywells, and with concrete tanks, the cover is opened and the tank is filled-in with rubble and soil. Details of septic tank, cesspool, drywell abandonment procedures are discussed in this article.

Septic Tank Abandonment Choices

When a septic tank is no longer going to be used, various factors determine what will happen to the old tank:

  1. Cesspools & Drywells: If the old septic system component to be discontinued is a cesspool or drywell, and occasionally with septic tanks, the old tank might be left in place and “daisy chained” to the new one. This was common at country and farm properties that relied on a cesspool for onsite waste disposal.Owners hoped that the old system might still help a little with wastewater treatment and disposal even though it had stopped working. This approach is dangerous if the old system has an unsafe cover, is in danger of collapse, or is leaking where it should not be.
  2. Steel septic tanks are often removed, crushed, and buried back at the site, possibly below or alongside a new septic tank – details are below.
  3. Concrete septic tanks are often filled-in after holes are broken into the tank – details are below.
  4. Plastic or fiberglass septic tanks are a newer item with less experience in abandonment. If such a tank is badly damaged and leaky it needs to be removed and replaced. It may be possible to crush and bury such a tank as in the case of steel tanks.

To avoid the risk of a collapsing septic tank, cesspool, or drywell which is no longer used, it is important to find and properly close out such facilities at any property, residential or commercial. In the photo at the top of this page, the truck “found” an abandoned septic tank by driving over it.

 

 

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Concrete Leveling vs Concrete Replacement Blog Posts, Concrete Leveling, Facts About Foundations, Knowledge Base, Types of Foundations, , ,
19
Nov 2015

Concrete Replacement vs. Concrete Leveling: Which is Better?

Broken, uneven, or sunken concrete slabs need to be fixed as they pose numerous dangers, especially to pedestrians. Concrete replacement and concrete leveling are two methods that are commonly undertaken to correct this structural problem. While both can provide good, long-lasting results, the latter provides more advantages in terms of time, labor, and cost.

Concrete Replacement

As the name suggests, concrete replacement requires partial or complete removal of the broken concrete and then replacing it with a new slab. This technique can be time-consuming, which increases the risk of injury. Since it involves numerous processes, from drilling the concrete and putting up reinforcements to pouring the concrete mix, among others, this method will require more labor and help from machinery.

For projects or public sites that aren’t as sensitive to disturbances, this traditional method is viable, especially if there isn’t a limited amount of time to finish the project. However, these longer jobs must take other factors into consideration. Weather conditions such as rain can extend the project schedule.

Concrete Leveling

On the other hand, leveling the broken or uneven concrete involves fewer steps that involves drilling the concrete, pumping it up with polyurethane foam to level the surface, and finally patching the crack marks. What might normally take weeks for a replacement to accomplish will only take as little as 15 minutes with leveling, depending on the scope of work.

Carrying out leveling work can also be done without a building permit, since it isn’t as disruptive to the public compared to replacement. Concrete leveling is also a preferred option for many because it is cost-effective. While this method offers a quick fix, it doesn’t compromise the quality of the results.

In the end, both concrete replacement and leveling have their own advantages, but contractors and homeowners have more to gain by choosing the latter.

Trust the experts at Foundation Technology for professional concrete leveling or other foundation repair services for your home or business. Contact us today and ask us about our free inspection service.

 

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Foundation Repair Services: Quake-proofing Your Home Blog Posts, California Earthquakes, Earthquake, Knowledge Base, Signs of Foundation Problems, Types of Foundations, , ,
16
Nov 2015

How the Right Foundation Repair Method Can Help Save Your House from Sinking

Los Angeles lies a few miles from the San Andreas fault, which makes it highly susceptible to earthquakes. Because of this, most cities in the area have implemented ordinances that require the inspection and retrofitting of buildings, or foundation repair for those that need it. Non-compliance with the city ordinances can result in fines, or, in the worst violations, the closure of businesses and revocation of business licenses.

Many contractors that perform foundation repair in Los Angeles, however, use methods that do not fully protect against the effects of earthquakes.

For example, standard methods involve the total replacement of damaged foundations with new ones. While a new foundation is meant to be a protective measure against sinking, it does not address groundwater saturation, which occurs after a period of heavy rain. It also does not protect it against the effects of soil liquefaction, which happens when saturated soil is shaken strongly, as in an earthquake. In areas where silt has been deposited, such as the alluvial floodplains formed by the old Los Angeles River, the ground could be unstable and can easily be liquefied if an earthquake is strong enough.

The only sure way to secure your house’s foundation is to connect it directly to the bedrock below it. To do this, helical piers and anchors are screwed in mechanically, up to a certain depth where bedrock can be found. Once the piers have reached the bedrock, steel brackets are mounted to support the foundation, giving it near-permanent stability that bypasses the effects of soft soil.

This method is ideal for soils such as sand, silt, and clay. It is also recommended for housing developments where the ground is usually compacted fill soil from nearby hilltops. The presence of vegetation, particularly larger trees, is also indicative of a prime candidate for this method, as trees put down roots that pull up water from the soil, making it dry out and shrink gradually.

The key to a stable house is a secure foundation. Protecting your foundation by applying the correct method will let you sleep better at night, knowing that you will not see cracks or sinking when you wake up.

For professional foundation repair or retrofitting services in Los Angeles, call the experts. Foundation Technology is a leading foundation repair company that’s backed by an experienced team, and offers in-house financing and a 25-year transferrable warranty to our clients. Contact us today and ask us about our 100% free, no-obligation inspection services.

 

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Helical Piers Explained
Helical Piers Explained
What are Helical Piers Foundation Anchoring Methods, Foundation Repair Methods, Types of Foundations, ,
16
Aug 2014

The parts of a helical pier consist of a helix (coil), shaft, and a support bracket at the top. Variations come with more than one helix, or a shaft made of solid square steel or a pipe section. In the 1830’s, helix screw piles were first introduced as an improvement over the common standard wood pier or driven support pile.

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Foundation Waterproofing
Foundation Waterproofing
Foundation Waterproofing Causes of Foundation Problems, Foundation Inspection, Foundation Repair Methods, Signs of Foundation Problems, Types of Foundations, , ,
14
Aug 2014

Foundation waterproofing is necessary in attempts to keep a basement or crawl space dry, especially if you plan to use the basement as living space. Open areas beneath a home, such as a crawlspace or basement have high moisture content which causes mold to grow on organic materials like wood, fabric, paper or latex paint.

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Slab Foundation Settlement Repair
Slab Foundation Settlement Repair
Slab Foundation Settlement Repair Foundation Repair Methods, Signs of Foundation Problems, Types of Foundations, , , ,
19
Jul 2014

Cracks in concrete floors often indicate slab foundation settlement problems; most common in, “slab-on-grade” home and buildings. This is when the floor slab is closer to the surface of the ground and therefore more affected by the changes in the soil.

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8679 View
Foundation Repair Overview
Foundation Repair Overview
Foundation Repair Overview Foundation Repair Methods, Types of Foundations, , , ,
08
May 2014

The foundation of a residential or commercial structure must fall within the appropriate tolerances, per universal building codes, (UBC) to pass an initial inspection. This means the architect and structural engineer must determine the specific requirements for the type of foundation before a build.

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