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"Great job! I feel so much better that the wall is secure."

Susan W.

Case Studies

Click on the tabs below to read some of the case studies we have compiled based on some of our biggest projects. There is a lot of research and planning that goes into Keystone Foundation Repair's services we provide. Take a close-up look at how we provide better foundations for large industrial structures, sink hole remediation, sunken foundation repairs and more. Each project involves an in-depth, detailed examination, and an assessment of its conditions. From here, we make our plan of action for how to resolve the issue.

Chesapeake Dock Stairtower
aerial view of wooden staircase down to dock on chesapeake
wooden staircase down to water and dock from cliff on chesapeake

A 50ft tall staircase down to a dock on the Chesapeake. It had a beautiful view but unfortunately it was built with wooden posts dug shallow into the ground. The stair tower was beginning to lean out towards the water.

worker in red shirt installing a helical pile under wooden staircase

As a structural retrofit to the existing staircase structure a steel structure was going to be built to attach to the stair case. This steel structure was to be supported on adequate piles. Helical piles were chosen because of their ability to be installed where access is difficult. The helical piles were installed with a small hand held drive head.

eight piles installed deep depth into ground under wooden staircase
piles installed under wooden dock staircase into ground next to water

All eight piles were installed to a depth of 20ft in one day. Their galvanized custom design caps will be welded to long pieces of channel steel and be part of a new steel structure that will clamp to the existing structure. Further movement is arrested.

Penncap Properties - Sinkhole Remediation - Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem PA
wooden gazebo in park next to commercial property
small sink hole in asphalt parking area next to sidewalk

A joint between the asphalt parking area and curb allowed for water to drain beneath the parking area. Over time a small sink hole developed and a portion of the asphalt collapsed . Unfortunately in close vicinity was a 36” pre-cast storm drain running below. The water had eroded the soil around the storm drain but had not yet caused the storm drain to misalign or leak.

parking lot storm drain pipes installed and labeled in ground

The storm drain pipe was inspected and dirt compacted to either side of it. A concrete cap was placed on top. PVC pipe was left at locations to mark the compaction grout points.

grout casing drill drilling at designated points at worksite
compaction grout points installed into ground at worksite

Grout Casing is drilled at the designated points until load bearing rock strata is reached.

low mobility grout pumped under drain to compact soil

The low mobility grout is pumped beneath the storm drain to compact the soils that had loosened due to the sinkhole.

workers monitoring grout for slump on jobsite
volume and pressure for compaction grouting being tested

The grout is monitored for the correct slump, volume and pressure as the compaction grouting occurs. Learn more about sink hole remediation.

Spectra Energy - Texas Eastern Gas Line - Perulack / Leidy Compressor Station
texas eastern cas line project sign at spectra energy

The main compressor at the station was contained in a tilt up panel building. The tilt up panels were set on a knee wall and footer. Both the knee wall and footer had spalled and deteriorated due to excessive use of calcium chloride during construction in the 1970’s. A method was devised to transfer the panel loads to a deep foundation of drilled hollow bar piles.

yellow excavator drilling into concrete
workers driving hollow bar piles into ground

38mm hollow bar piles with a 3” bit were driven through clay and shale to depth of approximately 20ft. The piles were rated at an ultimate capacity of 70kips. Two different size dills were used as a smaller dill was needed to work close to the gas lines coming around the back of the building.

i-beams welded onto cased piles around building
overview piles drilled next to building

All Piles were cased with a 3.5”O.D. pipe to a depth of 10’ and neat cement filled. I-beams were then welded on top of the piles and clamped to the bottom of the tilt up panels.

concrete formed around above portion of building

Concrete was formed around the above grade portion of the piles and behind the I beam.

Wyalusing Creek Frac Tank Tie-Downs
wyalusing creek water storage tanks for hydrolic fracturing

Water storage tanks were needed for hydraulic fracturing of gas wells. The tanks were positioned in a flood plane and had a possibility of floating away when they were empty. Shale was shallow at approximately 5ft depth.

bar anchors driven into shale by yellow excavator and workers

32mm hollow bar was installed with a 76mm bit. The bar was anchored 15ft into the shale for a working capacity of 20 Kips.

36 hollow bar anchors were installed in one day.

anchors connected to wyalusing creek frac tank tie-downs

All anchors were connected to cable tie-downs. The tanks are now secure even in flood situations.

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