Professional Foundation Repair Company Serving San Jose, CA

Background

In San Jose, CA, a homeowner faced a significant issue with their foundation. The back corner of the house had sunk by 3 inches, leading to noticeable cracks in the foundation and interior walls. This settlement issue not only compromised the structural integrity of the home but also affected the homeowner's peace of mind. They turned to Foundation Repair of CA for a permanent solution to their problem.

Problem

The primary issue was the settlement of the home's foundation, particularly in the back corner, which had sunk 3 inches. This caused:

• Cracks in the foundation.
• Cracks in the interior walls.
• Potential long-term structural damage if left unaddressed.

Solution

Foundation Repair of CA proposed and implemented a comprehensive solution to address the foundation settlement and restore stability to the home. The following scope of work was carried out:

1. Excavate for and Install Push Piers
• Excavation: Soil was excavated up to 3 feet deep to prepare for the installation of the push piers. This excavation was necessary to access the foundation and provide a stable base for the piers.
• Push Piers Installation: Low profile brackets were used to install push piers, specifically designed for structures on flat land. The piers were driven to a depth of 80 feet to reach stable soil or bedrock, providing a secure foundation for the home.
• Annual Service Maintenance: It was recommended that the homeowner enroll in our annual service maintenance program (Care Club Membership) to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the installed system.
2. Remove and Replace Concrete Sections
• Concrete Removal: Concrete sections were removed as needed to facilitate the pier installation. The removal was minimal, approximately a 3' x 3' section per pier area, ensuring that the work was as non-invasive as possible.
• Concrete Replacement: After the piers were installed, the removed concrete sections were replaced, restoring the area to its original condition.
3. Install Hydraulic Lift System
• Hydraulic Lift System: A hydraulic lift system was connected to the installed piers. This system was used in an attempt to lift the foundation back to its original position. However, it was noted that the ability to lift the foundation was subject to field conditions and that restoring the floor elevations to their original position could not be guaranteed.
4. Inject Simpson Strong-Tie Crack-Kit Epoxy
• Epoxy Injection: To secure the vertical cracks in the foundation, Simpson Strong-Tie Crack-Kit Epoxy was injected into the cracks. This epoxy provides a durable solution to seal the cracks and prevent further damage.

Outcome

The implementation of the above scope of work resulted in the following outcomes:

• Stabilized Foundation: The installation of push piers stabilized the foundation, preventing further settlement.
• Improved Structural Integrity: The hydraulic lift system improved the overall structural integrity of the home, addressing the immediate settlement issue.
• Crack Repair: The epoxy injection effectively sealed the cracks in the foundation, preventing further water ingress and damage.
• Restored Peace of Mind: The homeowner's concerns were alleviated, knowing that their home was secure and supported by a robust foundation system.

Conclusion

Foundation Repair of CA successfully addressed the homeowner's foundation settlement issue in San Jose, CA. By implementing a thorough and effective solution, the home's foundation was stabilized, structural integrity was improved, and the homeowner's peace of mind was restored. This case study exemplifies the commitment of Foundation Repair of CA to providing quality solutions and excellent customer service.

At Foundation Repair of Ca, we encountered a homeowner in San Jose who was faced with a continually nagging issue—his sidewalk was lopsided and becoming a tripping hazard. He wanted a real, no-fuss solution that would not only correct the unfriendly slant but ensure it wouldn’t become a problem again any time soon. 

Upon contacting our dedicated Customer Care team, we worked out a convenient time and sent over one of our System Design Specialists. This friendly visit was all about getting to the root of the sidewalk’s issue. 

After a thorough examination, it was clear: PolyLevel and NexusPro were the answers. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill fixes. PolyLevel tackles the unevenness by getting underneath and raising the concrete to its original level, leaving behind a virtually undetectable repair. Meanwhile, NexusPro seals the deal—quite literally—by sealing up joints and cracks, ensuring longevity and resilience against the elements.  

The beautiful thing about using PolyLevel and NexusPro is how quick, efficient, and non-disruptive the process is; it doesn’t require a major upheaval of your existing landscape or concrete. Once done, the sidewalk will look like new—sitting pretty and level, with no indication of its once inclined state. Sidewalks can be saved from a costly and messy replacement job, restoring peace of mind and safety to your residential oasis. At Foundation Repair of Ca, bringing such resolutions home is not just our job but our pleasure.

Mr. and Mrs. W recently bought their home with the knowledge that the garage had foundation issues. 

Our Structural Consultant, Steve Mack, provided a free inspection and came up with a solution that involved installing Push Piers to lift and stabilize the foundation. Our normal process involves installing the Push Piers from the exterior of the home. But in this case, Mr. and Mrs. W didn't want to damage the decorative concrete walkway that was attached to the exterior of the garage because it would be difficult to find a company who could copy it. To accommodate their preferences, Steve drew up a plan to install the Push Piers from the interior of the garage, where the concrete we would need to cut into was more simple and easy to replicate. 

Our crew, lead by Foreman Robert Pagan, installed 5 Push Piers on the interior of the garage. Now Mr. and Mrs. W can rest assured that their biggest investment (their home) is repaired and protected. 

There is almost nothing easy about coming to grips with the fact that your life is nearing its end.

This home is currently owned by a couple going through the late stage of their lives. They have children and grandchildren that they would like to pass the home down to. 

It was Christmas dinner, 2021, that Mrs. S remembers hearing a "loud pop and jolt" in her floor. She was worried that her home was falling apart. She found us through an internet search, called, and scheduled a free evaluation/inspection with our Structural Consultant, Steve Heaton. Steve performed the inspection by taking elevation readings of her floor to determine if there were any sections that were uneven; much to the chagrin of Mrs. S, a large portion of her floor was uneven according to Steve's readings. Steve wrote a quote that included a drawing with a proposed solution. Mrs. S talked it over with her husband and they decided to choose us to do the work. 

Our crew, lead by Foreman Alberto Chavez, performed the work quickly and effectively. The reason that Mrs. S' floor was uneven was because every single steel jack that supported it had rusted, which is a sign that 1) the jacks had been there for a long time, and 2) the jacks had been effected by long-term moisture exposure, causing the jacks to weaken and allow the floor to sink. In total, Alberto and his team removed 19 existing jacks and replaced them with our SmartJack Adjustable Steel Posts, lifting and leveling the floor. Now Mrs. S can rest easier knowing that her home is not falling apart. 

Have you ever had that one area of your home that isn't perfect? The hard-to-open door that makes you wonder why the heck it's so hard to open? That was what was driving the owner of this home insane. He would commute to work, finish his shift, and then drive home with a clear mind, but when he would park his car in his garage after his long day, the back door of his garage would leer at him, reminding him that while his home may be Pretty in Pink, there was some issue making his door stick that he couldn't see. 

So he finally decided to do something about it. He called us out to inspect what was going on. Our Structural Consultant discovered that the foundation in that specific area was settling, causing the structure to sink, causing the door to stick. Our solution was to lift the foundation with our Push Pier 288 System. We were able to lift the structure and bring the home to a level that allowed the door to open smoothly again. 

J. had wanted to find a solution to fix her bedroom door. The door would stick, making it difficult (and annoying) to open. The root of the issue was the wood posts that were beneath the floor of the door. The posts were still great pieces of wood, but a great piece of wood is no match for the shifting soils beneath it. To cure this, we removed the wood posts and replaced them with our SmartJack Adjustable Steel Post System. The SmartJack is capable of adjusting to the conditions of the soil, up or down. With the SmartJack System, we were able to bring the floor back to a level that allowed J.'s bedroom door to close and open without sticking. 

For this home, we also installed earthquake retrofit brackets to help the foundation and the floor system defend against the structural issues that they can cause. 

A place where the sun wasn't suppose to shine. The foundation of this home was in such disarray that it was more of a window than a foundation. There were other sections that had completely broken off from the foundation. The homeowner had gone into buying the home knowing completely well that the foundation would need to be fixed. She called us out to evaluate the problem and then fix it. Our concrete crew removed the old, cracked concrete and replaced it with a newly poured foundation. 

Problem solved!

This beautiful home was built in 1920. It had been over 100 years since the home had seen an update in regards to the foundation it rests on. The homeowner had noticed that there was cracking on the exterior walls and that his floors seemed to be uneven. Upon inspection, we discovered that the soils beneath the home had shifted significantly enough to make a few of the wooden posts within the crawl space come close to tipping over. The entire home was experiencing settlement so it would require a large number of push piers to solve the problem. In total, we installed 25 push piers along the perimeter of the foundation, giving the home more stability and the homeowner peace of mind. 

Now that Alan and his wife are retired, and all their children have moved away, the couple has decided to move into a smaller house in a quieter neighborhood. To get ready to sell their home they have been investing in small renovations on the interior of the house, however, when they spoke to a real estate agent they were both told that it would really help to also fix some of the issues in the exterior as well, one of which being their driveway which had sunk. They looked into their options and discovered how invasive and pricey the project was going to be to completely tear out the concrete and repour a new slab. Fortunately, Foundation Repair of CA is here to help!

They were pleased by how friendly our office was while scheduling a consultant to come out and evaluate the area, and they were impressed by Jim Palamedes being as punctual and informative as he is. When Jim assessed the area he suggested the Poly Leveling system to raise the slab and Nexus Pro crack sealant to seal the joint between the driveway and the garage.

Within two weeks, foreman David "DJ" Serpa and his crew were able to come out to perform the work. Upon arriving, DJ inspected the area and discovered that one side had sunk more than the other side. This wasn't an issue for him though, because of his extensive experience in working with the polyurethane foam. DJ had the crew prep and clean the area while he injected the foam underneath the slab. DJ injected a little bit at a time across the driveway, to prevent any unnecessary cracking during the lift. He made sure to keep an eye on the garage slab to prevent the driveway from being over lifted, and after awhile DJ stopped when the slab was perfectly even and level. After this, the crew installed the Nexus Pro crack sealant to prevent any future water damage to the slab.

Alan was astonished to see the work done. In a matter of a few hours, his driveway was completely flush with his garage slab and the eyesore of a crack was completely sealed. Alan and his wife were able to get a better evaluation on their house and the future homeowner never has to worry about a sinking driveway.