Diamond Certified Company Report

Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc.

Diamond Certified Company Report

Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc.

Diamond certified ratings dashboard
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION i
Customer LOYALTY i
Helpful Expertise i
Company Credentials i
  • Workers Compensation
  • Liability Insurance
  • License Verification
  • Business Practices
  • Current Complaint File
  • Legal & Finance
Phone SURVEY RESPONSES FROM 523 VERIFIED CUSTOMERS i

Denise D.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

1 of 523

Quality 10
10 10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They were always very responsive and walked me through the repairs when necessary. They are always nice and courteous.

They do good work. I think their field guys are really, really nice.

Alan K.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

2 of 523

Quality 10
10 10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

You're in good hands with responsible, ethical and cost effective people.

I like their ability to take care of an entire design build project.

Peter S.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

3 of 523

Quality 10
10 10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They're a great company. They did what they said they would do, and they did it in a timely fashion. The work was done under budget, and they kept me informed during the process.

They were very professional, on time, under budget, and kept me informed.

Read All 523 Survey Responses at Ratings View
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Diamond certified company PROFILE

Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. is a design/build construction company that provides solutions to soil-related problems, including landslide and creek bed repair; foundation underpinning, replacement and reinforcement; releveling; retaining walls; and drainage systems. Its clients include homeowners, property managers, attorneys, architects, and other engineers and contractors throughout most of Northern California.

Founded in 1992 by current owners Steve O’Connor, Bill Gibson and Morgan Anderson, Engineered Soil Repairs has a complete staff of engineers that enables it to provide in-house engineering on all projects. This inclusive design/build approach allows clients to work with only one entity, which can significantly streamline the project. The company can also prepare bids based on plans designed by others, and it’ll work with outside design professionals to develop cost-effective repairs.

Engineered Soil Repairs has completed more than 4,000 projects since its inception, ranging in cost from $1,500 to $7 million. It has a ready fleet of trucks and large and small equipment, including pickups, dump trucks, excavators, loaders, dozers and compactors.

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DIAMOND CERTIFIED RESEARCHED CAPABILITIES ON Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc.

COMPANY CONTACT
Service AREA

Alameda County
Contra Costa County
Marin County
Monterey/San Benito County
Napa County
San Mateo County
San Francisco County
Santa Clara County
Santa Cruz County
Solano County
Sonoma County

SERVICES PERFORMED

Foundation Repairs
Retaining Walls
Landslide Repairs
Seawalls
Creek Bank Stabilization
Drainage and Earthquake Retrofitting

DIAMOND CERTIFIED RESEARCHED ARTICLES ON Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc.

Telegraph Landing: Podium slab waterproofing and restoration of the common area brick patio and landscape areas

Company Profile

Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. is a design/build construction company that provides solutions to soil-related problems, including landslide and creek bed repair; foundation underpinning, replacement and reinforcement; releveling; retaining walls; and drainage systems. Its clients include homeowners, property managers, attorneys, architects, and other engineers and contractors throughout most of Northern California.

Founded in 1992 by current owners Steve O’Connor, Bill Gibson and Morgan Anderson, Engineered Soil Repairs has a complete staff of engineers that enables it to provide in-house engineering on all projects. This inclusive design/build approach allows clients to work with only one entity, which can significantly streamline the project. The company can also prepare bids based on plans designed by others, and it’ll work with outside design professionals to develop cost-effective repairs.

Engineered Soil Repairs has completed more than 4,000 projects since its inception, ranging in cost from $1,500 to $7 million. It has a ready fleet of trucks and large and small equipment, including pickups, dump trucks, excavators, loaders, dozers and compactors.

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Company Philosophy

“Client satisfaction is our highest priority. Over the years, we’ve grown to where the majority of our current work is from client referrals. Therefore, it’s incredibly important that all our clients remain satisfied, from the start of a project to the finish. Our office and field staff are dedicated to providing the highest quality work on every project.”

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Comparative Summary

Foundation repair work is a specialized field that requires extensive engineering expertise–there are few firms to begin with, and even fewer that stay in business for many years. Walnut Creek’s Engineered Soil Repairs has been in the foundation repair business since 1992. It’s a one-stop shop for foundation work–all project plans and engineering are done in-house, and the firm manages all necessary permits and inspections, so clients deal with one firm instead of two or three.

Engineered Soil Repairs’ employees are experienced foundation workers who have been with the company for years. Each work crew is headed by a foreman, who manages the site, and a superintendent, who visits each site daily. The firm’s registered engineers are always available for questions or problems that arise during the course of work.

Because Engineered Soil Repairs has in-house, registered engineers, clients can be assured their foundation work will be done correctly. The first step in a client engagement is an assessment by one of the firm’s engineers. This survey, which typically takes about 90 minutes, consists of determining the extent and cause of the client’s problem.

For example, a survey for a foundation problem is a complete assessment of the house to determine the unevenness of its floors and an inspection of its crawl space to determine the type and condition of the existing foundation. It’s a complete survey that results in a detailed written proposal and lump-sum cost of the work required. Once clients accept the proposal, engineers will develop the plans and prepare all the necessary submissions for relevant city and county agencies. Once permits are issued, the work is scheduled.

“Because we’ve been around since 1992, we’re well-known by industry professionals,” says co-owner Bill Gibson. “We get a lot of referral work from other professionals in the field. Most of our work comes from word-of-mouth reputation. People know our work, and everywhere a client turns, they hear we’re the company to hire.”

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Industry Info

Verifying licenses and insurance is an important first step in evaluating a potential foundation contractor, but it’s not enough. For example, a firm can hold an “A” engineering contractor’s license without having any registered engineers on staff. “You’re better off hiring a firm with registered engineers,” advises Bill Gibson, co-owner of Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. in Walnut Creek. “Foundation repairs are complicated and should be handled by licensed engineers, not just an estimator who’s familiar with construction.”

Damaged foundations can often be repaired by reinforcing them with beams or underpinning them with piers. But sometimes, damage is such that the foundation must be replaced. Only an engineer can reliably make the assessment of exactly what must be done.

Mr. Gibson also notes that very few customers actually call references before hiring a contractor. Checking references is a vital step, he says. Beyond that, he advises asking other professional engineers for their opinions about various firms. Often, professional references may be reluctant to state anything negative about a firm, but you can usually tell by their tone of voice whether the recommendation is an enthusiastic one. Rather than asking an opinion about a particular firm, ask what firms they refer clients to. “That’s an excellent way to find the top two or three foundation repair firms in the area,” says Mr. Gibson.

Obtaining multiple bids is also a way to evaluate the quality of firms. Bids not only give you pricing information, but if one firm submits a bid that’s significantly different in price or scope of work, then something may be wrong. “You should always get a couple of bids,” says Mr. Gibson. “A good firm will be comfortable with where its prices stand in relation to the rest of the industry. A client should be comfortable when they make their choice.”

Onsite safety and security are also important. Check the firm’s policies on covering holes and replacing fences at the end of a day’s work. Also ask how long its employees have been with a firm. Firms with many new hires and a large turnover rate may be introducing untrustworthy people into your home.

While foundation work may involve complex engineering expertise, choosing a foundation contractor doesn’t have to. Key elements to look for are on-staff engineers who conduct the design and planning (not just construction estimators), verifiable licenses and insurance, references and solicited professional opinions about the firms, and the existence of multiple bids.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I live in my house during repairs?

A: In almost all cases, yes. It may get a little noisy at times, but all the work is done from the exterior. Even the work under the house is accessed from outside. If we dig any holes, we cover them, and we put any fences back up at the end of the day. The house remains attached to the foundation and is always stable during construction, and the re-leveling process usually only takes half a day. During re-leveling, we use hydraulic or gear jacks to move the house, but it’s only about an eighth of an inch at a time.

Q: How soon can you start work?

A: Since we usually run eight or ten crews, our backlogs aren’t large. We can usually get to a job within two weeks of signing a contract. This is in contrast to small firms that run only one or two crews. There, the backlog can be several months.

Q: Is a permit required for foundation work?

A: Yes, but we can take care of that for you. We do all the engineering, plans, permits, and coordinate all the inspections and testing. The homeowner doesn’t have to be involved.

Q: Are you licensed?

A: Yes, we have general contractor’s “A” and “B” licenses, an engineering “A” license and a HAZMAT license in both California and Nevada.

Q: What insurance do you carry?

A: We have $2 million in general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and $2 million in errors and omissions insurance that covers the registered engineers who do our design work. Liability insurance doesn’t cover design work, so that last one is very important.

Q: Do you do seismic retrofitting?

A: Yes, and you can even get an assessment from a registered engineer. Most retrofitting firms are only contractors.

Q: Do you do landslide repairs?

A: Yes. We have at least three grading crews working in the summer. We own all our own equipment, so it’s always available. Sometimes landslides are complicated and require a specialist civil engineer to do borings and determine the makeup of the soil and depth of the slide plane. Once we complete that soil investigation, we can prepare our plans and cost estimates.

Q: Do you correct drainage problems?

A: Yes. It’s not a simple question of getting water out of a crawl space. We’ll send an engineer to do an assessment of the site—not just an exterior inspection but a complete assessment of the crawl space to determine the source of the problem and the extent of any damage—so we can apply the correct, cost-effective fix.

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Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. WEBSITE AND EXTERNAL FEED
COMPANY WEBSITE
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Diamond Certified RATINGS ON Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc.
Diamond certified ratings dashboard
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION i
Customer LOYALTY i
Helpful Expertise i

Each surveyed customer was asked, “If you needed any helpful expertise, did this company provide that expertise?” To calculate this score, total “Yes” responses were divided by total responses (excluding those that stated they hadn’t needed any expertise).

Company Credentials i
  • Workers Compensation
  • Liability Insurance
  • License Verification
  • Business Practices
  • Current Complaint File
  • Legal & Finance
Phone SURVEY RESPONSES FROM 523 VERIFIED CUSTOMERS i

Denise D.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

1 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They were always very responsive and walked me through the repairs when necessary. They are always nice and courteous.

They do good work. I think their field guys are really, really nice.

Alan K.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

2 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

You're in good hands with responsible, ethical and cost effective people.

I like their ability to take care of an entire design build project.

Peter S.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

3 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They're a great company. They did what they said they would do, and they did it in a timely fashion. The work was done under budget, and they kept me informed during the process.

They were very professional, on time, under budget, and kept me informed.

Kevin T.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

4 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They did a great job.

They solved our problems.

Helen C.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

5 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They did a very good job.

They were very responsible, on time and did a good job.

Philip G.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

6 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They worked with our main contractors for the HOA. I really just handled the logistics. I thought they were great though.

They were really professional and they worked well with our team.

Kim S.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

7 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

From what I know, they did a good job.

From my perspective, their communication

Sandra S.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

8 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They were good.

Professional

Ruben B.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

9 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Logistically, they are amazing. Throughout the whole process, slash project, I got updates and other communication as needed.

The updates

Desiree S.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

10 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

If you have a foundation problem, I wouldn't talk to anyone else.

They were on time, efficient, clean, and experts. They really knew what they were doing.

Michael G.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

11 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Rely on their expertise, they don't sell the job, but they tell you what needs to be done and it is for you to know that they are experts at what they do.

The crew were really nice people.

Dennis G.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

12 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They were professional and they had a strong performance.

They do what they say they are going to do and they finish it on time.

David T.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

13 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Very positive, very professional and a friendly crew, they always cleaned up after themselves and they were very good.

The quote was the quote and it was the final dollar amount. They took care of everything, including the inspections, the permits and everything else. It was not cheap, but it was not their fault and it made me feel comfortable.

Priscilla M.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

14 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They are very responsive and we have been satisfied with all of their work thus far.

They are local and we have had success using their services.

Julie M.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

15 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They were very knowledgeable and very skilled. I felt like they understood the job and completed it to my satisfaction.

The level of knowledge of their industry was my favorite thing.

Charles E.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

16 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

I had a very good experience.

They kept me updated about what they were doing and they explained things to me and my wife.

Jim G.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

17 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Competent, high quality and they know what they are doing.

They really worked with me in terms of the layout and the design. They made sure that all of my concerns were addressed.

David T.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

18 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Very professional, very courteous and high quality of work

They were on time every day, even though they were coming from Walnut Creek and I am in Belmont. It is a bit of a drive. They were always punctual, very courteous and would let me know what they were doing the day of or the day after. They had pretty good communication and they just took care of it.

Denise D.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

19 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

I would tell them to use them. They are very, very qualified. They know what they are doing and our boards are happy.

The guys I deal with

Dave B.

VERIFIED Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. CUSTOMER

20 of 523

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Responsive, knowledgeable, and understanding of most technical scopes of work

Their knowledge

Read All 523 Survey Responses at Ratings View
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