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Ram Jack West Installed (4) Helical Piles & (26) Driven Piles to Lift & Stabilize a House in Puget Sound, WA that Settled 5.5 Inches
Problem
Perched on the shoreline of Puget Sound, this 1960 mid-century home was designed by the well-known architect Ralph Anderson. The property carried architectural significance and stunning waterfront views, but it also carried decades of wear. When the property went up for sale, the prospective buyer requested a pre-purchase inspection from Ram Jack West after noticing cracks in the foundation and sloping floors.
Using a Zip Level, Ram Jack documented a 5.5-inch differential across the structure. These findings confirmed significant settlement and raised concerns about the future performance of the foundation, placing both the pending sale and the buyer’s remodel plans at risk.
Proposed Solution
Following the inspection, Ram Jack West collaborated with Puget Sound Engineering and Cobalt Geosciences to design a repair plan that addressed both immediate and long-term needs.
The proposed solution included:
- Installing a combination of driven and helical piles at an average depth of 30 feet, with design loads ranging from 12.8 to 34.6 kips.
- Developing a pier layout to reduce floor variation to within industry standards (maximum of 0.5” differential over 10 feet).
- Utilizing a jack system, if needed, to correct interior floor framing.
- Recommending additional drainage improvements (to be completed by others) to help prevent future soil movement near the foundation.
This approach addressed both the immediate performance issues and provided long-term reliability, supported by engineering oversight and testing.
Outcome
On-site, Ram Jack West installed 26 driven piles and 4 helical piles. Each pile was advanced to competent bearing strata, and four were load-tested at twice their design capacity under the supervision of Cobalt Geosciences, confirming the repair system would perform as intended.
The installation successfully recovered up to 2 ¾ inches of settlement, reducing differential across the home to acceptable tolerances. Work was completed ahead of schedule, and both the homeowner and contractor expressed high satisfaction with the results.
By involving Ram Jack West at the inspection stage, the buyer gained critical insight into the property’s condition, moved forward with confidence in their purchase, and ensured the remodel would rest on a reliable foundation system designed for decades of service.
Summer 2025
