Blog entries

Francisca V. Alonso has endorsed Ken Fraine as President at Soil & Structure Consulting, Inc.

Soil & Structure — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:52:18 +0100

Francisca V. Alonso has endorsed Ken Fraine as President at Soil & Structure Consulting, Inc.
"We have worked with Ken on various residential design-build projects and his company has provided us with excellent engineering services. We highly recommend Ken and Soil & Structure Consulting for all your engineering needs. Great results! Great professionals to work with!" ?Service Category: engineering?Year first hired: 2004 (hired more than once)?Top Qualities: Expert, High IntegritRead More...

See what people are saying about Soil & Structure in Maryland, DC and Virginia

Soil & Structure — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 22:46:07 +0100

See what people are saying about Soil & Structure in Maryland, DC and Virginia

Jerome P. Friedlander, II(client)
Jerome P. hired you as a soil and structural engineer in 2003 and hired you more than once
Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity

“I am an attorney. I have worked with Ken in his capacity as a soil and structural engineer in cases involving those issues going back approximately 10-years or more. He has always made Read More...

Structural Inspection & Repair

Soil & Structure — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:45:38 +0100

Foundation Wall Movement
Foundation problems should be addressed as soon as they are discovered and before the damage is irreversible. The two most common types of foundation failures are foundation settlement (vertical movement of the footers) and foundation wall bowing (lateral movement of below-grade walls).
Foundation Settlement
Typical signs of foundation settlement are stair-step cracks and vertically sheared bricks or blocks. The direction of the cracks is very importantRead More...

"Zero Crack" Concrete

Soil & Structure — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:47:21 +0100

BEACHWOOD, Ohio - BASF Construction Chemicals has invented a new kind of concrete that it says will transform the $20 billion repair construction industry, because once it sets, it's virtually crack-proof.

BASF says its "ZERO-C" (zero-cracking) line of concrete is a stronger and more durable alternative to the mortars that usually repair - and re-repair - crumbling historic buildings and other older structures.

"This is like finding the cure for cancer for our industry,"Read More...

Snow Melt: What can you do to prevent surface water infiltration?

Soil & Structure — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:08:31 +0100

Snow Melt

What can you do to prevent surface water infiltration from snow melt?

There are several preventative measures that you can take both before and after a snow event.

Before it snows:

1. Before it snows, be sure that the ground surface around the perimeter of your foundation wall has a positive grade (i.e., sloped away from the wall).

2. Check your gutters and keep them clear. We highly recommend installRead More...

Concrete Spalling in Virginia

Soil & Structure — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:37:03 +0100

Here's a picture of some significant concrete spalling on the interior face of a foundation wall of a older home in Purcellville, VA. This is the result of decades of water infiltration through the wood framing and plywood covering the access panel. This problem can be fairly easily solved by simply installing a new window that is properly sealed. The concrete wall itself is still intact and shows no other signs of damage.

Spalling can also be the result of theRead More...

Structural Inspection & Repair in MD, VA and DC

Soil & Structure — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:12:47 +0100

Foundation problems should be addressed as soon as they are discovered and before the damage is irreversible. The two most common types of foundation failures are foundation settlement (vertical movement of the footers) and foundation wall bowing (lateral movement of below-grade walls).

Foundation Settlement

Typical signs of foundation settlement are stair-step cracks and vertically sheared bricks or blocks. The direction of the cracks is very important in determining whether tRead More...

Soil & Structure Consulting in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC

Soil & Structure — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:21:35 +0100

Many other structural consulting firms will tell you their job is just to find problems or simply provide a design. We believe our job is to help you solve problems. We don't just perform an inspection or design and leave you with a list of issues and a bill. We work with you to determine the best solution for your property and budget, and then make that solution happen.

We specialize in almost 40 different services, ranging from inspection to design to remediation. You can learn Read More...