Foundations

This conventional foundation replacement on a two-story home in Berkeley begins with support the house on steel I-beams and removing the existing foundation and stucco. The dirt is excavated for larger footings, as most older foundations are too shallow. Steel reinforcement is added. Form material is installed to contain the concrete when it is poured. Exterior plywood is added to the framing to provide sheer strength and as backing for the new stucco. Paper and wire (lath) is installed prior to the stucco. The new stucco is installed to match the extra material so that everything blends together. This 3-story, 12 unit apartment building in Oakland needed a whole new foundation. This side, adjacent to the neighbors, needed a new foundation and retaining wall. Once the steel and form material are installed, the wall is heavily braced to avoid collapse during the pour. Finished foundation, with the retaining wall extending into the front yard area.