If you ask for 3 different opinions regarding a settlement problem, you will likely get 3 different answers. When choosing a repair method you should be confident that the problem which caused the settlement is being directly addressed in a manner that will prevent any future settlement. Competent supervision and support staff should be directly involved in the installation process. At John Schopke Inc., all foundation work performed is supervised by either John or Scott Schopke, owners and founders. Remember, if you want something done right ...

Pressure Grouting for the lifting and stabilization of settled structures. It is often impossible to develop lift with this method. It is unreliable and may not offer a long term solution. Many structures pressure grouted often settle again over time. The grout is difficult to contain and impossible to predict where it will flow. It will follow the path of least resistance and often travel to an unwanted location. If your proposal reads "we will lift the structure as much as possible, OR stabilize the affected area, you are most likely going to get "stabilization" and will have to cosmetically repair the damages.

Hand-dug Pads are often sold as underpinnings. These are concrete piers dug below a foundation to the depth of "good soil". The pad relies on a large surface area for load support, the bigger the pad, the more it will support, however, this requires more of the foundation to be undermined. This may cause further damage during the installation if temporary shoring is not used. If the pads are not installed deep enough they add more weight to the already failing soils. This method should only be used in surface compaction situations, and only with extreme caution.

Post Hole Pin Piles are small diameter piles that extend about 5' in depth or to the water table. This method is rarely effective to underpin heavy structures and should only be used when obtaining access with machinery is impossible. Lighter structures such as pool decks or concrete slabs may be repaired if good soil can be reached before water intrusion.

Steel Piers are small diameter pipe (3" - 4") driven into the ground. They often have doubtful long term performance because the weight of the structure is often used as the reaction against which the piles are driven. This leaves very little safety factor to predict long term effectiveness. They may have an unreliable connection to the foundation which can fail over time. Unlike an Augered shaft, the operator has no feedback as to what the pier is hitting as it is driven. Piers are often driven to "refusal", this could be a hard rock layer, or a tree stump.