When an existing foundation is settling because the foundation has exceeded the bearing capacity of the soil immediately below that foundation, underpinning which can transfer the foundation load to a deeper and more competent soil stratum, may be the solution.  This same transfer can be done if there is a desire to add dead load (which overstresses the soil below the foundation) to an existing structure.  Another application is for seismic retrofit of an existing building or bridge foundation.

Schnabel Foundation Company's staff and crews have decades of experience in the construction of hand-dug pit underpinning, bracket pile underpinning, and the use of micropiles and other systems to underpin structures.  Communication between our design engineer, construction manager, foreman, and underpinning crew is maintained throughout the construction.  This level of experience and close coordination, combined with our regular monitoring, has helped us to keep the movements of some very sensitive structures that we have underpinned within acceptable limits.