Commercial Foundation Stabilization in Centennial, Colorado
A commercial liquor store in Centennial, Colorado, showed visible signs of differential settlement along the north end of its building. Interior tile and concrete slab cracks extended from the back storage area into office space. Exterior distress included cracking, separation near window openings, cracking at the stone veneer and foundation, and concrete flatwork pulling away from the building.
Ram Jack Colorado completed a phased commercial foundation stabilization project to support the settled portion of the structure. The team installed 32 Ram Jack helical piers, performed a controlled lift, filled voids beneath the slab, and restored affected sidewalk areas. Throughout the work, the liquor store remained open and operational.
Commercial Foundation Settlement Signs at the Liquor Store
The building foundation consisted of concrete spread footings and stem walls. A concrete block retaining wall sat about 15 feet north of the building. The wall is about 6 feet tall and extended roughly 200 feet long.
A third-party engineer documented the building’s elevation conditions. Most of the southern portion of the building is measured generally within plus or minus one-half inch of level. However, the southernmost interior column measured about 1 inch low.
The north end showed more pronounced movement. The northeast corner measured about 1.5 inches low. The northwest corner measured approximately 3.5 inches low. The liquor-store slab at the north end also measured roughly 2 inches low.
These measurements aligned with the visible distress. Therefore, the project required a commercial foundation repair solution that could provide deep support while allowing the business to continue serving customers.
Third-Party Engineering Evaluation Identifies Settlement Conditions
The third-party engineering evaluation identified low-stiffness fill soils with elevated moisture content beneath the building. Sandstone underlay the fill soils.
The site contained weaker near-surface soils above a deeper, more competent bearing layer. Therefore, Ram Jack Colorado selected a deep-support approach instead of relying on the existing shallow foundation soils alone. Helical pier foundation repair can transfer structural loads from an existing foundation to suitable bearing strata.
The retaining wall was also evaluated because of its proximity to the building. However, the engineer determined that it was adequate in its current condition. The recommendation was continued monitoring, not structural repair. As a result, the stabilization work remained focused on the settled north end of the liquor store.
Helical Pier Foundation Repair for Deep Commercial Foundation Support
Ram Jack Colorado installed 32 Ram Jack helical piers to provide deep commercial foundation support. Each pier used a 2 7/8-inch shaft, a 10-inch helix, and a 4-foot guide sleeve. The crew achieved the project’s recorded torque target of 7,000 lb-ft during installation.
Installation depth varied across the site. Piers at the front of the building generally advanced between 24 and 26 feet. However, crews installed deeper piers along the side of the building. Select locations reached up to 31 feet. This variation reflected actual subsurface conditions encountered in the field.
By advancing the helical piers through the low-stiffness fill and into deeper bearing conditions, the system created a deep-support path beneath the affected portion of the commercial structure.
Phased Installation Keeps the Centennial Liquor Store Open
Ram Jack Colorado completed the work in coordinated phases so the liquor store could remain open. During the eight-day first phase, the crew installed 27 helical piers and prepared the structure for lifting.
The team also encountered existing underground conduit near five planned pier locations. Instead of disrupting the support plan, the crew carefully exposed the conduit and coordinated installation around it. This approach allowed the required starters and brackets to be installed while accommodating existing site utilities.
Next, the crew performed a controlled lift of the affected north end of the building. The structure required substantial force to begin responding to the lift. Once movement began, the building responded as intended. Ram Jack Colorado then installed the remaining 5 piers during a three-day second phase.
This phased commercial foundation stabilization approach helped balance two priorities: delivering a complete deep-foundation support system and minimizing disruption for an active retail business.
Controlled Building Lift and Polyurethane Foam Void Filling
After the controlled lift, Ram Jack Colorado used polyurethane foam to fill voids beneath the slab. The foam helped address unsupported areas created or revealed during lifting. It also helped restore continuous support beneath affected slab areas.
The crew removed and replaced approximately 1,343 square feet of concrete sidewalk around the building. This work restored areas affected by access and helical pier installation.
The verified outcome was structural stabilization through a deep commercial foundation repair system.
Commercial Foundation Stabilization Results for Continued Building Use
Ram Jack Colorado delivered a commercial foundation stabilization solution for a settled liquor store in Centennial, Colorado. The completed system included 32 helical piers installed to depths of approximately 24 to 31 feet. The crew also achieved the recorded torque target during installation.
By working in phases, coordinating around existing conduit, and communicating with store operations, Ram Jack Colorado helped the business remain open throughout construction. The final scope provided deep support beneath the north end of the building, filled subslab voids after lifting, and restored affected sidewalk areas.
For commercial property owners, facility managers, contractors, and engineers, this project demonstrates how helical piers can support a targeted commercial foundation stabilization strategy when variable fill soils overlie more competent bearing material.
