Alpha Structural - Los Angeles Structural Engineers & General Contractors. Design-to-build structural repairs for residential and commercial properties in SoCal for over 30 years. We post our weekly assessments every Tuesday at 2pm!
Alpha Structural - Los Angeles Structural Engineers & General Contractors. Design-to-build structural repairs for residential and commercial properties in SoCal for over 30 years. We post our weekly assessments every Tuesday at 2pm!
Love the mention! What a cool history fact.
Good eye! 😏
Anytime!
That’s right. Once filled and reinforced, they act as part of the structural system.
They can be structural when reinforced and filled. The issue is usually how they’re installed, not the material itself.
Tight space, respirator, and dust. Not exactly fresh air down there.
That’s a solid breakdown. Soil, location, and budget usually drive everything when it comes to foundation design.
We feel so seen that you know our area! 😉That’s it. In seismic zones, flexibility matters more than mass.
Exactly. Different regions, different problems to solve! Thank you for sharing.
There isn’t one “best.” It depends on soil, slope, moisture, and seismic demand. The right system is the one designed for the site.
Pipes have a job. Supporting structures isn’t one of them. 😂
Haha we get it, to sum it up we're in Southern California. We just share what we run into out on structural assessments out here.
Saving us the explanation, appreciate it. 🤗 Thank you for knowing so much about our content and posts, hopefully you learned a thing or two throughout our threads!
Good eye. Mostly SoCal. 🤩
Hi! We’re in Southern California. A lot of what we see comes from hillsides, moisture, and seismic movement.
That phrase usually means someone or something skipped all the usual rules. 😂
Same. You see it, pause for a second, then start figuring out why.
Thank you! He is. You don’t get comfortable in crawlspaces like that without putting in the time.
It happens!! Many crawlspaces don't deserve the word 'crawl' in front of them. 😂
The work is typically done in small, manageable sections (4–5 feet at a time) to ensure the house remains supported, rather than replacing the entire foundation at once.
Raised and slab foundations can be foreign for sure haha! Slab foundations are a different system entirely. Raised foundations allow access underneath, but they come with their own maintenance and structural considerations.
Joist Jenga is a good name for this one haha!
Appreciate that.😅 The goal is usually to identify the issue and correct it without removing more than necessary.
Moisture exposure plays a big role. Even with durable materials, proper drainage and detailing are what really extend the life of these systems.
You're a regular around here, aren't you? 😅🫣
Sounds like we might need to add that one to the terminology list.
A cripple wall is a short stud wall that sits on the foundation and supports the floor above. They’re common in older homes, especially in crawlspace foundations.
Hillside properties definitely come with their own set of challenges, especially with soil movement and drainage. I promise not every hillside property is bad.