Caisson drilling for hillside homes in Los Angeles
Ford Foundation Drilling LLC drills caissons and pours the grade beams that tie them together for homes, additions, decks, pools and retaining walls in the Los Angeles area.
We are set up for slopes and tight lots, where the soils report calls for a deep foundation and a standard drill rig will not fit.
What a caisson is
A caisson is a round concrete column, reinforced with a steel cage, drilled down through loose or sloping ground into firm soil or bedrock. Your plans may call it a caisson, a drilled pier, a friction pile or a CIDH pile. A grade beam runs across the tops of the caissons and carries the structure.
When a house needs them
- The lot is on or near a slope
- The soils report finds fill, loose soil or expansive clay near the surface
- The structure sits close to a descending slope, and the footings have to reach a set distance back from the slope face
- A new deck, pool, addition or retaining wall is going onto a hillside
- A slope has moved and the repair calls for piles
What we do
- Drill the caissons
- Place the reinforcing steel
- Pour the caissons, grade beams, pile caps and footings
- Handle the drill spoils
- Coordinate inspections so each hole is approved before concrete
Getting a rig to your backyard
Access decides most hillside jobs. Our Mait Baby Drill is 3 feet wide. Our Tescar CF 2.5 can be lifted over the house by crane. Our Caterpillar Lo-Drill works under low overhead. Send photos of the access and we will tell you what fits. More on limited-access drilling.
What we need to give you a price
- The structural plans, or the foundation sheets
- The soils report
- Photos of the site access
Send plans and the soils report to info@fordfoundationdrilling.com or call 1-626-804-8517, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Where we work
We work across Southern California, with recent projects in Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Malibu.
Common questions
What do caissons cost in Los Angeles?
The price moves with diameter, depth, the number of caissons, site access, rock, and how far the spoils have to be hauled. Send the plans, the soils report and access photos and we will give you a written proposal.
What if you hit rock?
We drill through it. Rock drilling is billed by the hour and shown as its own line in the proposal.
Do I need a soils report first?
Yes. The soils report sets the depth and diameter of the caissons, and the building department reviews the foundation against it.
Do you work directly for homeowners?
Yes. We work for property owners, general contractors and engineers.
Related services
Got a project
in mind?
Let's talk. Operators standing by Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm PST.