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Project Details

Hillside Residential Renovation

Foundation Repair, Retaining Wall & Drainage for Historic Home

Verge Civil Engineering provided civil and structural site solutions for a 1920s hillside home that had experienced significant foundation cracking and slope movement over several decades. The homeowners wanted to preserve the historic character while making the structure safe for the long term. CEO Zachary personally inspected the site and developed a phased repair plan.

  • START: 2021
  • COMPLETION: 2022
  • TAG: CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION
BUDGET PRICE $185,000

The Challenge of Projects

The home’s rear foundation had settled nearly 4 inches, causing floors to slope and walls to crack. The hillside behind the house showed signs of active creep, with tension cracks in the soil and a retaining wall that was visibly bulging. Limited access (a narrow driveway with a sharp turn) made bringing in heavy equipment extremely difficult. The local historical commission also had to approve any exterior changes.

Project Requirements

  • Verge designed a helical pier foundation underpinning system with 18 piers driven to competent bearing strata at 25–30 feet deep.
  • A new 180‑linear‑foot cast‑in‑place concrete retaining wall with tiebacks replaced the failing stone wall.
  • French drains were installed behind the new wall.
  • All downspouts were rerouted into a buried drainage system discharging to the municipal storm line.

Project Results

The slope was fully stabilized, with inclinometer readings showing zero movement after 12 months. The homeowners received a 50‑year transferable warranty on the helical pier system. No further cracking has appeared in the house after two full rainy seasons. The historical commission approved the final design, and the home’s market value increased by an estimated 35%.