Underpinning Solutions - Matthews Wall Anchor & Waterproofing Services

Underpinning Solutions

underpinning solutionsMatthews Wall Anchor is a leader in the underpinning of existing foundation systems. Underpinning, also referred to as piering, is a process that transfers the loads from a structure to a deep foundation element bearing in more suitable ground. When foundations fail, our structural contractors depend on quality underpinning solutions. Underpinning enables us to complete complex foundation issues without causing disturbance to the work area. Commercial underpinning has one simple concept – to strengthen, lift, and support settling foundations. Here are several reasons why your structure may need underpinning:

  • The existing foundation is weak or unstable due to settlement
  • The building’s structure has shifted or moved due to floods or droughts
  • Changes in the soil that supports the foundation
  • Economical solution over new construction
  • Nearby new construction with excavation

When a foundation has sifted and settled, there will be structural damage throughout the entire structure. That is why it is important to know what signs to look for that may indicate that you are in need of foundation repair. When you look around your commercial or industrial building look for some of these signs:

  • Ceiling cracks
  • Floor cracks
  • Sloping floors
  • Wall cracks
  • Bowing or leaning walls
  • Doors and windows that stick

All of these are signs that you may have foundation settlement. It is important to contact a professional at the first signs of foundation settlement. The experts at Matthews Wall Anchor will come and give you a free inspection and offer you the underpinning solution for your repair needs. The sooner a foundation repair is done, the least amount of damage that will occur throughout the structure.

Benefits of Underpinning

With underpinning, structures are more accessible for inspection, renovations, and improvements. It also helps save energy, reduce heating and cooling costs, and stabilizes the soil underneath the foundation. Our underpinning piers include steel push piers that are used to stabilize and lift foundations back to normal. Our hydraulic equipment used for piering is quiet and vibration free. All installation equipment is portable and can be manually transported on the job site and into position. After all of the piers are installed and load tested, the structure can be immediately restored by transferring the load to the piers. There’s no time wasted, waiting for concrete to cure, and no soil to remove from the site. A measured factor of safety is verified, as the piers are 100% load tested to a force greater than the actual working load.

The benefits of using a piering system are:

  • Installs from outside or inside existing structure
  • Installs with portable hydraulic equipment
  • Installs in areas with limited access
  • Little spoil removal
  • Piers are load tested during load transfer
  • Can be loaded immediately after installation
  • Attaches to existing foundations with a bracket system

MatthewsWall Anchor primarily uses Earth Contact Products, LLC piering materials, the very best in the industry. Please visit their website at www.earthcontactproducts.com for product information. We have over 35 years of experience and have established an outstanding reputation in the Pittsburgh, PA area. We will be here for from beginning to end and even afterward to answer any of your questions or concerns. Contact Matthews Wall Anchor for any of your underpinning needs in Pittsburgh, PA.

Steel Push Piers

Steel Push PiersSince the 1980s, Matthews Wall Anchor has been the number one choice for commercial foundation repair and underpinning in Pennsylvania. We offer heavy duty steel push piers, also known as resistance piers, to lift and stabilize buildings and other large structures. Steel push piers are used to disperse the weight of your home and foundation to the more suitable soil. If structures show signs of foundation settlement, Matthews Wall Anchor can help. We can fix settling foundations, sticking windows/doors, and leaning walls for commercial foundations. Our structural contractors will make sure everything is sound and secure.

Steel push piers are designed to transfer loads from the soil to more suitable soil. They are individually driven and the structure works as the reaction. A friction reduction collar, that creates an opening in the soil, is connected to a galvanized pier piper. As the pier pipe is driven into the soil, it lowers the skin friction onto the pipe so the pier can be load tested to support the load. During load transfer, hydraulic jacks are installed at more than one location to reduce the load on each push pier. They are also attached to a manifold system to lift and stabilize the structure. These can be used on most commercial properties.

Benefits of Steel Push Piers

  • Uses quiet, vibration free hydraulic equipment
  • Installed and load tested
  • The structure is immediately restored and lifted back to normal
  • Piers are 100% load tested to accommodate the working load
  • Does not require skin friction for support
  • A quick installation that requires little soil removal
  • Installed from the interior or exterior of the structure

Contact Matthews Wall Anchor for quality steel push piers to stop damage to your Pennsylvania foundation. We use steel push piers made by Earth Contact Products, the leading manufacturer in underpinning. We use the latest products in the industry to stabilize your foundation for many years to come so settlement won’t recur. For our customers, we offer technical information about the types of steel piers we use for commercial and industrial applications. The types of steel push piers include:

Commercial Underpinning Solutions

Matthews Wall Anchor does commercial underpinning to repair commercial foundations. Underpinning is the process of strengthening and supporting a failing foundation. When a commercial foundation has proper underpinning, the structure will be lifted to the acceptable elevation and it will provide support to prevent additional settling.

Settling foundations can be caused due to the changing moisture content in the soil beneath the foundation. When soil gets saturated with moisture it will expand and when it gets too dry, it will contract. As the soil is continually shifting, so is the foundation that is on top of the soil. When foundations settle, it can cause damage throughout the entire structure.

Some of the signs of a failing foundation are:

  • Sloping floors
  • Ceiling cracks
  • Wall cracks
  • Sticking doors and windows
  • Foundation cracks
  • Ceiling cracks
  • Bowing or leaning walls

If your commercial building has any of the signs of foundation settlement, it is important to contact the professionals at Matthews Wall Anchor for a free inspection. We offer the services of a structural contractor to help your project run smoothly from beginning to completion. If we find that you are in need of underpinning, we have over 35 years of experience and use the best products available for commercial underpinning. Our underpinning products are manufactured by Earth Contact Products (ECP), the leader in the manufacturing of underpinning products in the industry today.

Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider commercial underpinning:

  • The original foundation is not stable or strong enough
  • Usage of the building has changed
  • The soil supporting the structure has changed
  • New construction nearby has required excavation of the soil currently supporting the existing foundation
  • It is more cost effective to use underpinning rather than build a new structure

Things to consider before commercial underpinning such as:

  • Underpin the entire foundation. There are risk factors when underpinning only a portion of the foundation.
  • If you have plumbing leaks or negative drainage. Left unattended this will cause foundation movement.
  • Floor instability will cause distress to the foundation.
  • Damage from vegetation will draw moisture away from the foundation, causing settlement.

Why Use Matthews Wall Anchor for Commercial Underpinning

Matthews Wall Anchor drills steel push piers deep into the ground through the unstable soil layers until they reach a solid soil layer. Each pier is then load tested. After testing, the entire weight of the structure is lifted onto the piers using hydraulic jacks. The structure will be level and stabilized for many years to come. We use the best steel push
piers in the industry manufactured by ECP.

With underpinning, commercial structures are more accessible for inspection, renovations, and other improvements. Underpinning also saves energy and reduces heating and cooling costs. Other benefits of our piering system include:

  • Installed from outside or inside existing structure
  • Little soil removal
  • Installs in areas with limited access
  • Installed with portable hydraulic equipment
  • Piers are load tested during load transfer
  • Can be loaded immediately after installation
  • Attaches to existing foundation with a bracket system

Matthews Wall Anchor has over 35 years of experience in commercial underpinning. We have established an outstanding reputation and we intend to keep it that way. For all of your commercial underpinning needs, contact the experts at Matthews Wall Anchor.

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