Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. is a design/build construction company that provides solutions to soil-related problems, including landslide and creek bed repair; foundation underpinning, replacement and reinforcement; releveling; retaining walls; and drainage systems. Its clients include homeowners, property managers, attorneys, architects, and other engineers and contractors throughout most of Northern California.
Founded in 1992 by current owners Steve O’Connor, Bill Gibson and Morgan Anderson, Engineered Soil Repairs has a complete staff of engineers that enables it to provide in-house engineering on all projects. This inclusive design/build approach allows clients to work with only one entity, which can significantly streamline the project. The company can also prepare bids based on plans designed by others, and it’ll work with outside design professionals to develop cost-effective repairs.
Engineered Soil Repairs has completed more than 4,000 projects since its inception, ranging in cost from $1,500 to $7 million. It has a ready fleet of trucks and large and small equipment, including pickups, dump trucks, excavators, loaders, dozers and compactors.
“Client satisfaction is our highest priority. Over the years, we’ve grown to where the majority of our current work is from client referrals. Therefore, it’s incredibly important that all our clients remain satisfied, from the start of a project to the finish. Our office and field staff are dedicated to providing the highest quality work on every project.”
Verifying licenses and insurance is an important first step in evaluating a potential foundation contractor, but it’s not enough.
For example, a firm can hold an “A” engineering contractor’s license without having any registered engineers on staff. “You’re better off hiring a firm with registered engineers,” advises Bill Gibson, co-owner of Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. in Walnut Creek. “Foundation repairs are complicated and should be handled by licensed engineers, not just an estimator who’s familiar with construction.”
Damaged foundations can often be repaired by reinforcing them with beams or underpinning them with piers. But sometimes, damage is such that the foundation must be replaced. Only an engineer can reliably make the assessment of exactly what must be done.
Mr. Gibson also notes that very few customers actually call references before hiring a contractor. Checking references is a vital step, he says. Beyond that, he advises asking other professional engineers for their opinions about various firms. Often, professional references may be reluctant to state anything negative about a firm, but you can usually tell by their tone of voice whether the recommendation is an enthusiastic one. Rather than asking an opinion about a particular firm, ask what firms they refer clients to. “That’s an excellent way to find the top two or three foundation repair firms in the area,” says Mr. Gibson.
Obtaining multiple bids is also a way to evaluate the quality of firms. Bids not only give you pricing information, but if one firm submits a bid that’s significantly different in price or scope of work, then something may be wrong. “You should always get a couple of bids,” says Mr. Gibson. “A good firm will be comfortable with where its prices stand in relation to the rest of the industry. A client should be comfortable when they make their choice.”
Onsite safety and security are also important. Check the firm’s policies on covering holes and replacing fences at the end of a day’s work. Also ask how long its employees have been with a firm. Firms with many new hires and a large turnover rate may be introducing untrustworthy people into your home.
While foundation work may involve complex engineering expertise, choosing a foundation contractor doesn’t have to. Key elements to look for are on-staff engineers who conduct the design and planning (not just construction estimators), verifiable licenses and insurance, references and solicited professional opinions about the firms, and the existence of multiple bids.
Foundation repair work is a specialized field that requires extensive engineering expertise–there are few firms to begin with, and even fewer that stay in business for many years. Walnut Creek's Engineered Soil Repairs has been in the foundation repair business since 1992. It's a one-stop shop for foundation work–all project plans and engineering are done in-house, and the firm manages all necessary permits and inspections, so clients deal with one firm instead of two or three.
Engineered Soil Repairs' employees are experienced foundation workers who have been with the company for years. Each work crew is headed by a foreman, who manages the site, and a superintendent, who visits each site daily. The firm's registered engineers are always available for questions or problems that arise during the course of work.
Because Engineered Soil Repairs has in-house, registered engineers, clients can be assured their foundation work will be done correctly. The first step in a client engagement is an assessment by one of the firm's engineers. This survey, which typically takes about 90 minutes, consists of determining the extent and cause of the client's problem.
For example, a survey for a foundation problem is a complete assessment of the house to determine the unevenness of its floors and an inspection of its crawl space to determine the type and condition of the existing foundation. It's a complete survey that results in a detailed written proposal and lump-sum cost of the work required. Once clients accept the proposal, engineers will develop the plans and prepare all the necessary submissions for relevant city and county agencies. Once permits are issued, the work is scheduled.
"Because we've been around since 1992, we're well-known by industry professionals," says co-owner Bill Gibson. "We get a lot of referral work from other professionals in the field. Most of our work comes from word-of-mouth reputation. People know our work, and everywhere a client turns, they hear we're the company to hire."