Foundation Underpinning
Engineering-backed foundation underpinning that stops settlement and restores structural stability. Our Ram Jack® steel pier systems reach stable soil deep below the surface, giving your home permanent support backed by a 20-year warranty.
When your foundation starts to settle, you’ll usually notice it in small ways first. A crack appears in the drywall near a window. A door starts sticking in its frame. The basement floor develops a slight slope that you don’t remember being there. These are your home telling you that the soil underneath is no longer providing the support it needs.
Foundation underpinning solves this problem by extending your foundation’s support down to stable soil or bedrock, bypassing the weak or shifting soil that’s causing the settlement. Think of it as giving your home a deeper, stronger set of legs to stand on. Read more about what foundation underpinning means for BC homeowners.
In the Lower Mainland, foundation settlement is especially common because of our diverse soil conditions. Marine clay in Richmond and Delta compresses under load. Glacial till in the Fraser Valley can shift with seasonal moisture changes. Fill material used in newer developments sometimes compacts unevenly over the years. Each situation is different, but the underlying principle is the same: your foundation needs to reach solid ground.
At Ossum Concrete Lifters, we use Ram Jack® steel pier systems for underpinning because they’re engineered for exactly this purpose. These aren’t generic piers you’d find at a hardware store. They’re ICC-certified, load-tested on site during installation, and backed by decades of performance data. Each pier is driven or screwed into the ground until it hits stable bearing soil, then locked to your foundation with precision brackets. The result is permanent support that won’t shift with the seasons.
Underpinning isn’t just about stopping the damage that’s already happened. It’s about making sure it doesn’t happen again. Every project we take on is designed by a structural engineer and tailored to your home’s specific conditions. We don’t guess at what your foundation needs; we test, measure, and verify every step of the way. Check out our article on foundation repair and underpinning costs in BC.
Most residential underpinning projects can be completed in up to 2 weeks, depending on how many piers are needed and the access conditions around your home. You can stay in your home during the work, and we will restore the excavation areas when we’re done.
Signs You Need This Service
Watch for these warning signs that indicate you may need professional foundation support:
Our Process
0
Free Foundation Assessment
We inspect your home inside and out, documenting cracks, measuring floor levels, and evaluating soil conditions around the foundation. You get a clear picture of what's happening and why, with no obligation.
1
Engineering Design
A structural engineer designs a custom underpinning plan based on your home's specific needs. This includes pier locations, depth requirements, and load calculations to ensure long-term stability.
2
Permit and Preparation
We handle the building permit process and prepare the work areas around your foundation. Excavation points are carefully planned to minimize disruption to your landscaping and property.
3
Pier Installation
Ram Jack® steel piers are driven or screwed into the ground until they reach stable bearing soil. Each pier is load-tested on site to verify it meets the engineered design capacity before being locked to your foundation.
4
Stabilization and Restoration
Once all piers are installed and verified, your foundation is stabilized. In many cases, we can lift settled areas back toward their original position. Excavations are backfilled and your property is restored.
Systems & Solutions
Ram Jack® Helical Piles
Steel shafts with helical (spiral-shaped) bearing plates that are screwed into the ground to reach stable soil. Helical piles work well in a wide range of BC soil conditions including clay, silt, and fill material. Installation is verified through real-time torque monitoring, so we know exactly when each pile has reached sufficient bearing capacity. Ideal for lighter structures, limited access areas, and situations where minimal vibration is important.
Ram Jack® Driven (Push) Piers
Steel pipe sections that are hydraulically pushed through a bracket attached to your existing foundation. The weight of your home provides the reaction force needed to advance the piers to stable soil or bedrock. Driven piers are the go-to solution for heavier structures and situations where maximum load capacity is required. Each pier is individually tested during installation to confirm it meets the engineered design load.
Carbon Fiber Wall Reinforcement
For foundation walls that have developed cracks from settlement, Carbon Fiber straps provide structural reinforcement without invasive repair. The carbon fiber material is 10 times stronger than steel, bonds directly to the concrete surface, and creates a nearly invisible repair when painted. This is often used alongside pier installation to address both the settlement cause and the wall damage it created.
Featured Projects
See how we've helped homeowners with similar foundation challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common signs include cracks in foundation or basement walls, sticking doors and windows, uneven floors, and gaps between walls and ceilings. If you’re noticing multiple symptoms, especially ones that seem to be getting worse over time, it’s worth having an assessment done. Our free evaluations give you a clear picture of whether underpinning is needed or if a simpler solution will do.
Most residential underpinning projects are completed in up to 2 weeks, depending on the number of piers required and site access conditions. You can stay in your home during the work. We plan the project to minimize disruption to your daily routine and restore excavation areas once the work is complete.
In many cases, yes. Once the piers reach stable bearing soil, we can use hydraulic jacks to carefully lift settled sections of the foundation back toward their original position. The amount of lift depends on the condition of the structure and the extent of settlement. Your engineer will discuss realistic expectations during the design phase.
We use Ram Jack® helical piles and driven (push) piers, both of which are ICC-certified and manufactured to strict quality standards. The choice between helical and driven piers depends on your soil conditions, the weight of your structure, and access around your home. Your structural engineer will specify the right system for your situation.
Yes, foundation underpinning requires a building permit in BC. This is actually a good thing because it means the work is inspected and documented, which protects you and adds value to your property. We handle the entire permit process as part of the project, so you don’t have to deal with the paperwork.
Every project is different, so costs depend on factors like the number of piers needed, soil conditions, and access around your home. We provide a detailed quote or proposal after your free assessment, so there are no surprises. We also offer financing options to help manage the investment. What we can tell you is that underpinning costs far less than the ongoing damage that untreated settlement causes to your home’s structure and value.
Yes. Ram Jack® steel pier systems are designed as permanent solutions and are backed by our 20-year warranty. The piers bypass unstable surface soil to reach bearing strata that won’t shift with seasonal moisture changes. Once installed and locked to your foundation, they provide lasting support regardless of what the surface soil does.
The most common causes in our region include expansive clay soils (especially in Surrey and Delta), poorly compacted fill material in newer developments, changes in moisture levels from drainage issues or drought, and the natural aging of older foundation systems. Tree roots, plumbing leaks, and changes to the water table from nearby construction can also contribute to settlement.
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Why Professional Support Matters
Temporary fixes like crack patching, shimming doors, or adjusting window frames only address the symptoms of foundation settlement. The underlying soil problem continues to get worse, and those fixes need to be repeated again and again. Engineered underpinning with steel piers stops the settlement at its source by transferring your home’s weight to stable ground. It’s a one-time solution that protects your investment for the long term.