AcuStruct is a general contractor specializing in structural foundation repairs and soil stabilization. Projects include all types of foundation repairs, including pipe pile, helical anchors and drilled concrete piers. AcuStruct repairs, replaces and constructs new structural retaining walls, including soldier pile walls, cast-in-place concrete walls and larger structural walls with tie-backs. The company's General Engineering License (A) and General Building Contractor License (B) allow it to complete all aspects of repairs.
President Dan Yust has been in the construction industry for more than 20 years and has an extensive background in foundation repair and replacement. Today, he says he applies his experience to providing superior workmanship and service for clients throughout Northern California. “We make sure every job benefits from our expertise, experience and proficiency.”
AcuStruct employs a complete crew of experienced superintendents, foremen and laborers who have come across all types of situations during the course of their work. “We also use independent engineering consultants and inspectors to avoid any potential conflict of interest,” says Mr. Yust. “Keeping inspection and construction responsibilities separate can be critical for defining the scope of work and employing best practices toward reaching our goals.”
“We’re a detail-oriented company and we communicate with our clients daily. Our owners personally oversee daily operations on each job, which ensures quality control and makes the foundation repair process go as smoothly as possible.”
Foundation repair is a specialized business, and finding an experienced contractor is important. However, there are a few things you should look into before making your choice.
For one, it’s a good idea to get a complete list of a contractor’s previous clients over the past few years and contact three to five of them. Also, check the financial health of the company through ratings services such as Dun & Bradstreet, or, for complaints, the California Contractors State License Board’s website.
Workers’ compensation insurance is another important area to investigate. Because of the type of work involved in foundation repair, it’s especially critical for a contractor to carry it. In a case where a contractor is using a subcontractor for drilling, check the license and insurance status of those companies as well.
Several variables affect the costs of foundation projects, including:
• An assessment by a structural engineering
• A soil assessment report by a geotechnical engineer
• Seismic considerations
• Underground obstacles (from previous work) or natural obstructions
“Right now, there are some general contractors trying to get into the foundation repair industry because the market is slow in some other areas of the business,” says Dan Yust, owner of AcuStruct Inc. in Concord. “Many just don’t have the experience, so you need someone who really knows the risks and has enough experience to know how to make a realistic bid.” A prospective contractor should include a complete plan based on the recommendation of the engineering assessments. Find out what the remedies include and what the process will be if other problems arise after work begins.
AcuStruct, Inc. is an engineering contractor that concentrates on soil-related problems such as landslides, retaining structures, drainage, erosion control, underpinning, and foundation corrective work. Expertise, experience and proficiency are characteristics that mark AcuStruct's work, says owner Dan Yust.
While customer satisfaction continues to be a prime reason new clients come to AcuStruct, Mr. Yust thinks it's something else that sets his company apart. "We don't subcontract out any part of a job, and we own and operate all of our equipment," he says. Owning and operating all the machinery needed for a job cuts out the inefficiencies of using a subcontractor. AcuStruct is able to perform all the functions that soil and foundation repair projects require.
Mr. Yust explains that a key advantage of using AcuStruct is that it offers a complete crew of knowledgeable foremen and engineers who can adequately analyze and diagnose any situation, as well as design and implement a plan for repair. "We also don't have in-house engineering," he says. "We work with independent engineering consultants who work directly with property owners to avoid any potential conflict of interest." Keeping those two elements of a potential project separate can be critical in determining what work is truly necessary.
