Retaining Wall and Foundation Underpinning in Richmond, CA
Location: Richmond, CA
General Issue: Structural stabilization on the downslope side of a residential property
Services: Retaining wall underpinning, foundation underpinning, drilled pier installation and concrete construction
Solution: Ten drilled piers to underpin the retaining wall, a new 40-foot facing wall, and three additional drilled piers to underpin the rear extension of the home
Homes built on sloping lots can present structural challenges that are quite different from those on level ground. Foundations and retaining walls must accommodate changes in grade while safely transferring the loads of the home and surrounding soil.
At this Richmond property, preliminary engineering plans called for structural improvements along the downslope side of the property, including underpinning an existing concrete retaining wall and providing additional support beneath a rear extension of the residence.
Ward Construction was brought in to perform the structural work specified in those plans.
The Solution: Underpinning the Existing Retaining Wall
The first part of the project involved underpinning the concrete retaining wall on the downslope side of the property.
Ward Construction installed 10 drilled piers approximately 18 feet deep. Five of the new piers included tiebacks, while the remaining piers were formed upward to serve as buttresses supporting a new facing wall.
Drilled piers are commonly used in structural repair projects when additional support is needed at greater depths than the existing foundation or retaining wall provides. For this project, the pier system created a new structural support system for the downslope retaining wall.
Constructing a New Concrete Facing Wall
In addition to the underpinning, Ward Construction constructed approximately 40 linear feet of new facing wall in front of the newly installed piers.
The combination of drilled piers, tiebacks, buttresses and the new facing wall created an integrated structural solution based on the preliminary engineering plans for the property.
This type of project illustrates why retaining wall work on hillside properties can involve much more than simply replacing the visible wall. Depending on site conditions and the engineer’s recommendations, stabilization may require structural elements extending well below ground.
Underpinning the Rear of the Home
The scope of work wasn’t limited to the retaining wall.
The engineering plans also called for underpinning the rear extension of the residence with three additional drilled piers. These piers provided additional structural support beneath that portion of the home.
By addressing both the retaining wall and the residence, the project provided structural improvements to multiple components of the downslope portion of the property.
Ward Construction also handled obtaining the building permit required for the work.
Foundation and Retaining Wall Challenges on Richmond Hillside Properties
Richmond includes neighborhoods with significant changes in elevation, and homes on sloping sites can require specialized approaches to foundation and retaining wall repair.
When structural concerns involve a hillside or downslope portion of a property, the appropriate solution depends on the home’s construction, soil and site conditions, existing foundations and retaining walls, and recommendations from the project’s structural or geotechnical professionals.
For this Richmond project, the solution included deep drilled piers, underpinning, tiebacks, buttresses and new concrete construction rather than a surface-level retaining wall repair.
Need Foundation Underpinning or Retaining Wall Repair in Richmond?
Problems involving foundations and retaining walls on sloped properties can be complex. When repairs require underpinning, drilled piers or other structural improvements, it’s important that the construction follow the engineering requirements developed for the individual property.
Ward Construction performs foundation repair, underpinning and retaining wall construction in Richmond and throughout the East Bay, including complex structural repairs for hillside and sloped properties.