Ground conditions and movement
A history of movement or changing groundwater can affect which structural support is appropriate. Geotechnical findings and records of existing distress provide the basis for evaluating a repair.
Market
Specialty Foundations and Stabilization
Micropiles, underpinning, soil nails, and slope support where existing buildings, ground conditions, or property boundaries limit construction.
Discuss your projectEngineering for your project
Foundation and hillside engineering for difficult sites
Existing foundations, steep terrain, property boundaries, and limited equipment access can rule out a conventional foundation or retaining wall. Before selecting an alternative, the team needs to understand the loads, ground conditions, observed movement, and space available for construction.
Cefali & Associates designs soil nail walls and micropile foundations and provides structural engineering for slope stabilization. The work is developed with the geotechnical recommendations, whether the project needs to retain ground, support structural loads, or address a slope condition.
Design and construction
What affects the shoring and foundations.
Property and access limits
Soil nails and anchors need space behind a wall. Where easements are unavailable, another wall type or layout may be required.
Existing foundations
Foundation upgrades and underpinning need to account for current loads, nearby footings, and temporary support during installation.
Our experience
Related projects
Specialty foundation and stabilization engineering for micropiles, landslide remediation, soil nails, and difficult foundation conditions.
Vista Monterey Soil Nails
At Vista Monterey, soil nails were limited by the property line, while soldier pile walls were used where nail easements were unavailable.
Quintas Press Micropiles
Micropile foundation work at Quintas Press is part of the Cefali & Associates specialty foundation portfolio.
Additional projects
Related services
Shoring and foundation engineering.
Our services cover excavation support, retaining systems, and specialty foundations. The right combination depends on the ground conditions, existing structures, and work you are building.
Planning guides
Read about the constraints behind this work.
Micropiles, Caissons, and Helical Piles: Which Foundation Fits Your Site?Understand how loads, ground conditions, equipment access, and connections to the building affect the choice of micropiles, drilled caissons, or helical piles.Corona Retaining Walls: When Soil Nails Cannot Cross the Property LineAt Vista Monterey in Corona, property limits led Cefali to combine soil nail and soldier pile walls. See how reinforcement space affects wall design.Los Angeles Hillside Foundations: Building on a Steep or Constrained SiteHow slopes, retaining walls, nearby buildings, and equipment access shape hillside foundation design, with examples from Cefali & Associates projects.
Discuss your project
Tell us what you are planning.
Send the plans and site information you already have. Include your schedule, known access limits, and the engineering work you need help with.
Send project informationUseful information to send
- Geotechnical report and any movement history
- Survey, property boundaries, and access limits
- Existing foundation drawings and proposed loads
Project photos
Portfolio
Additional projects
01COLORADO RIVER AQUEDUCT MICROPILES - Construction Services
Project overview
Project photos from Cefali & Associates.
02NIMES ROAD LANDSLIDE REMEDIATION
Project overview
Project photos from Cefali & Associates.
03TRESTLES LANDSLIDE REPAIR
Project overview
Project photos from Cefali & Associates.
