CIDH pile installation in Los Angeles
Ford Foundation Drilling LLC installs cast-in-drilled-hole (CIDH) piles for general contractors, engineers and owners across the Los Angeles area. We drill the shaft, set the reinforcing cage and place the concrete under one subcontract, so the pile is not split between three trades.
We hold a California Class A General Engineering license, CSLB #1083119, and work on both prevailing wage and private projects.
What we drill
- CIDH piles for buildings, retaining walls, decks and public works structures
- Soil, weathered bedrock and hard rock
- Open sites, low-overhead sites and lots a full-size rig cannot reach
What is in our scope
- Drilling and spoils handling
- Reinforcing steel placement
- Concrete placement
- Coordination with the inspectors before each pour
- Pile caps, grade beams and footings, when you want the foundation delivered as one package
Rigs
We run three rigs sized for tight sites. The Caterpillar Lo-Drill works under low overhead. The Tescar CF 2.5 can be lifted over a house by crane. The Mait Baby Drill is 3 feet wide and built for small spaces. Tell us the access and we will tell you which rig fits. See the rigs.
Where we work
We work across Southern California, with recent projects in Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Malibu.
We regularly work under Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) permits and inspections.
Get a price
Send plans and the soils report to info@fordfoundationdrilling.com or call 1-626-804-8517, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Common questions
What is a CIDH pile?
A cast-in-drilled-hole pile is a deep foundation built by drilling a shaft, lowering a steel reinforcing cage into it and filling it with concrete. Residential plans often call the same thing a caisson or a drilled pier.
Do you handle the reinforcing steel and concrete, or only the drilling?
We can deliver drilling, reinforcing steel and concrete as one scope, so one subcontractor answers for the finished pile.
What happens if you hit rock?
We drill it. Rock drilling is priced by the hour and shown as its own line in the proposal, so it is not a surprise later.
Do you take prevailing wage work?
Yes. We work on prevailing wage public works projects as well as private ones.
Is a CIDH pile the same as a caisson?
In residential work, yes. See our page on caisson drilling for hillside homes.
Related services
Got a project
in mind?
Let's talk. Operators standing by Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm PST.