Julian Construction Blog

Julian Construction Urges Underpinning For Shaky Foundations

Foundation Construction Company Seeks Increased Awareness of Important Home Support

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, (http://www.julianconstruction.com/), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, is urging homeowners to learn more about the use of underpinning with a home foundation and, second, to learn the signs of foundation problems which indicate a need for underpinning.

Underpinning is the process of strengthening and stabilizing the foundation of an existing building or other structure. Underpinning is accomplished by extending the existing foundation in depth or in breadth so that it either rests on a more supportive soil stratum or distributes its load across a greater area.

Julian Construction noted several reasons a home’s foundation could need underpinning.

* Additions to a home, such as adding an additional story, could cause the need for additional support to the foundation.
* Over time a building’s foundation may settle or rotate at certain points, causing strain on the structure.
* If interior changes to the building resulted in the removal of load-bearing walls, the foundation would be affected.

A competent foundation specialist would be able to see if these or any other foundation problems exist during a foundation inspection.

Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction, stated: “Underpinning is a very useful tool for strengthening a building's foundation. It should be noted that each foundation underpinning is unique and should be designed by a professional engineer or an architect. At Julian Construction we can review plans or obtain the engineering necessary for your project and complete the repair. And an underpinning is not a do it yourself type job. You need to bring in a competent foundation contractor to do this type of job."

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.typepad.com.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Roof Flashing Issues Noted As Problem In Some Homes

Julian Construction Seeks To Raise Adherence To Industry Standards For Roofing

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, (http://www.julianconstruction.com/), a construction and roofing contractor company working in the Southern California area, has brought to attention an important need for homeowners to get their roof flashing inspected. Roof flashing seals and protects the joints and places where the roof of a house intersects with other things, such as pipes, chimneys, vents, etc. The company indicates that it is an important point of home maintenance and safety, as improper flashing allows moisture to get into a home, potentially causing many problems.

Proper flashing deflects moisture from entering into a structure. But Shawn Kyles, Chief Safety Inspector of Julian Construction noted that improper installation or design can lead to actively directing water inside the structure, as opposed to outside. This could result in water entering walls and other parts of the structure, or even seeping into the structure’s foundation causing even further problems. In addition to the health risk of prolonged moisture entering a home, these structural concerns are such that homeowners should definitely take care of roof flashing. Inspection by a competent professional will determine if roof flashing is in need of repair in a home.

Mr. Kyles 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. Flashing repair 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 or on top of 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.typepad.com.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Building a Retaining Wall

by Shawn Kyles

Retaining walls are stabilizing structures built to stop erosion and the downward movement of soil on a slope. The walls are built in a way that redistributes the pressure that comes from the sloping ground. A variety of materials are used to build the walls, such as concrete, steel, stone, brick, composites, wood and even glass.

Retaining walls on residential properties are often constructed to hold back the soil from a hillside, many times to create more usable space. Other uses for a retaining wall include stopping soil from sliding away from a foundation or from damaging the landscape.

There are various kinds of retaining walls, including gravity walls, anchored walls, cantilevers and sheet pile walls.

Gravity restraining walls depend on their own significant weight to keep soil from moving. They are constructed leaning backwards toward the soil. Early gravity walls were built from concrete or stone. Today, they are made from many different types of materials, including steel wire baskets filled with rocks and geosynthetics.

Anchored walls are restraining walls constructed using cables (usually extremely strong steel) that are anchored into the soil or rock behind the wall. They are used when the wall cannot be built strong enough to restrain the load. Constructing an anchored wall is an extremely complex process.

Cantilever walls are used to hold back a large amount of soil. They are made with steel-reinforced concrete that rest on slab foundation. Cantilever walls convert horizontal pressures from the soil to vertical pressures on the ground.

Sheet piling walls, which can be made from wood, vinyl or steel planks, are used in places where the space is tight and the soil is soft. The planks are driven into the ground.

Determining what type of retaining wall construction to use will depend on the type of soil that needs to be retained, the kind of soil the wall will be built on, how much space is available for the wall and the degree of slope above and below the structure. The location of pipes and service lines can also be a factor in construction.

Deciding what material to use will also be based on the environment, as well as budget and preferences regarding color and texture. Large retaining walls will require strong and durable materials.

Another important issue for retaining walls is drainage. Choosing the best method of drainage will increase the strength of the wall. The wrong type of drainage can result in the walls eventual collapse. Sometimes proper drainage can be easily accomplished by simply creating holes in the wall. However, the structure can easily become damaged if the holes get clogged.

The best way to ensure your wall is built right, is to hire a professional foundation contractor who has experience constructing retaining walls on many different types of properties. A knowledgeable builder will evaluate every aspect of the project. You will get reliable advice regarding your options, which can save you considerable time and money. You will also have peace of mind knowing that your wall is sturdy and long-lasting.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous