Reinforcing a Point

When Levelift Systems, Inc. wants to reinforce a point, be careful because they may begin by working to strengthen the foundation in your home or office building. Founded in 1990, Levelift Systems specializes in shoring, reinforcing, as well as securing all types of commercial, residential and industrial structures. Embedded in Maryland’s own Howard County since 1990, Levelift Systems has earned its reputation as the state’s Premier Foundation Specialists through exceptional engineering, foundation support and foundation repair services. In fact, you may have moved a loved one into an apartment complex with a new foundation support or have walked through a museum with an updated concrete slab support or even bought a coffee at a nearby 7-Eleven equipped with helical piers or tension anchoring - all compliments of Levelift Systems. But, Levelift Systems did not always have the distinction of being Maryland’s Premier Foundation Specialists – they had to earn it.

In September 1992, a new Giant Food Store was added to the Beltway Plaza shopping center in college Park, Maryland. The site of the new grocery store consisted of fill material and native alluvial Prince George's County soils, a mixture of marine clay, sand, washed gravel and cobble. Several of the column footings and foundation wall footings were settling significantly during initial construction. Levelift Systems was hired to underpin, or add support by placing bracketed helical piles, beneath the building.

Levelift Systems proposed installing A.B. CHANCE® bracketed helical pier assemblies drilled downward through the problem soil, providing a solid and secure anchor assembly for the structure. Not only has A.B. Chance® been manufacturing helical foundation anchoring components longer than anyone, they have also gained the recognition and the acceptance of all major U.S. building codes. The helical pier and tie-back assemblies provide support to the exterior wall spread footings as well as external perimeter foundation of the building and walls.

During placement of several helical piers at the settling steel column footings, Levelift Systems noticed unusual variations in installation torque and pier depth. Upon closer examination and correlation of helical pile locations with the available soil records, it was determined that a deep trench from a previously-removed storm drain contained loose fill soil. Without identification of this poor soil, brought to light by the helical pier torque readings, the loose fill would have provided a conduit for groundwater and surely would have contributed to ongoing foundation failure.

By using A.B. CHANCE® helical pier foundations, Levelift Systems was able to not only strengthen building support systems, but also essentially performed a soil test with each and every installation. This has proven to be invaluable to the owners, employees, occupants and customers of numerous settling businesses, buildings and other structures. More than fifteen years after initial construction, the Giant Food store stands without so much as a crack in its split-block facade.

In June of 1998, a leading commercial real estate developer in Baltimore City envisioned transforming a run-down historic warehouse into a modern office complex with operational elevators. The developer wanted to leave the external shell of the building intact, however soil borings and testing revealed a very poor, wet, mud-like material accompanied by a 7-foot layer of cemented oyster shell. Levelift Systems was contracted to drill through the oyster shell bed and install a grouted helical micropile, “SS-5” type, which can support up to 60,000 pounds. Levelift Systems completed its work in approximately one week due to uninterrupted renovations and was recommended by the on-site geotechnical engineer to preemptively solve any potential settling problems.

Today, Levelift Systems prides itself on affordable prices, prompt service, and reliable results. They have earned the title of Maryland’s Premier Foundation Specialists and welcome an opportunity to “reinforce that point”.

Paul Mauer is the President and CEO of Levelift Systems, a foundation support contracting firm specializing in the reinforcing, shoring and stabilization of all types of structures, servicing the commercial, industrial and residential fields. He can be reached at 301-369-3400 or at paulm@levelift.com.