Serious Settlement of Foundation Case Studies
When purchasing their home in Toqurville, Utah, the owners of the Terrace
Deposits residence did their due diligence. They researched the value
of the property, had a formal home inspection, and felt comfortable with
their purchase. After making one of the biggest purchases of their lives,
they felt content with their decision. But only few years later, they
began to notice some problems. Cracks appeared in the drywall, and the
tile mortar on the floor began to pull apart.
Situation
The homeowners consulted a local company, Landmark Testing and Engineering,
to help them get to the bottom of the problem. The engineering firm found
that a portion of the residence on the north side was settling, and they
recommended an underpinning system be installed to prevent any further
settlement and damage. Ram Jack Utah was called in to perform the job.
Engineers and inspectors assumed that the rear porch was built on standard,
near-surface footings rather than drilled concrete pilings as with the
rest of the home. This less strong and less stable solution quickly settled,
causing visible damage to the rear exterior porch.
Proposed Solution
Because of the dense, rocky makeup of the soil on the north side of the
structure where the settlement was taking place, Ram Jack Utah professionals
determined that a standard application of the Ram Jack helical and driven
steel piles would not be appropriate. Instead, they proposed using a portable
rotary hammer drill that could break through the dense, stone-filled soil
and provide a pilot hole into the underlying silty deposit. Each hole
would provide an opening for subsequent installation of driven steel piles
with Ram Jack’s standard brackets and guide sleeves.
Outcome
A total of 16 driven steel piles with driven pile brackets were installed
through the pilot holes and driven through a silty layer of soil to reach
bedrock. The piles reached an average depth of 14 ft., and the home was
lifted 2.5 in. for a complete recovery to its original position. Just
as importantly, the piles provided the support needed to prevent any future
settlement of the home. After installation of the piles, each of the holes
was filled with structural polyurethane foam to eliminate any voids and
further stabilize the structure. The customers were more than pleased
with the job, and they have volunteered their home to prospective Ram
Jack Utah customers as an example of Ram Jack’s quality of work.
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