Our Services

Deep Foundation & Shoring Support on Western Canadian Job Sites

If your upcoming project requires expert deep foundation and shoring solutions in Western Canada, connect with our team. We provide dependable foundation systems and earth retention strategies for both new construction and renovations. From initial planning to final execution, we ensure structural stability and support every step of the way.

Shoring

  • Timberlag shoring is a versatile earth retention system that uses concrete piles with wide flange beams inserted within them. The face of the shoring is constructed with timber lagging, creating a stable barrier against soil movement during excavation. For deeper excavations, typically exceeding 6 meters, we reinforce the structure with tieback anchors and whalers for added stability. This method provides a reliable and robust solution, ensuring the safety and support needed for complex excavation projects.

  • Secant shoring is an advanced earth retention technique that creates a continuous, overlapping concrete pile wall to prevent soil movement and water infiltration during excavation. This system is constructed with alternating primary and secondary piles, with reinforced secondary piles installed to overlap the primary piles, forming a watertight and structurally sound barrier. For excavations around 6 meters or deeper, we typically utilize tieback anchors and/or rakers to provide additional stability. Secant shoring is ideal for deep excavations in challenging soil conditions or urban settings where minimal movement is crucial for protecting nearby structures.

  • Shotcrete/anchor shoring is a durable and versatile earth retention system used to stabilize excavation walls by spraying a layer of high-strength concrete (shotcrete) directly onto the exposed soil face. Reinforced with steel mesh and rebar, this shotcrete layer provides immediate support to the excavation wall. In deeper excavations, tieback anchors are typically installed to add further stability by securing the shoring to stable ground behind the wall. This method is particularly well-suited for projects with limited space or challenging access, as it can be customized to accommodate various site conditions and excavation depths.

  • Compression rings are a unique support structure used in deep, circular excavations that provide lateral earth retention without the need for tieback anchors. Constructed from high-strength steel or other durable materials, these rings encircle the excavation, evenly distributing earth pressures and stabilizing the walls. This method is especially advantageous in confined or challenging environments where anchoring is impractical. Compression rings are ideal for deep shafts or circular excavations, offering a reliable, self-contained solution for stability and safety in demanding ground conditions.

  • Beam and shotcrete shoring is a reinforced earth retention method that combines vertical steel beams with a shotcrete (sprayed concrete) wall facing. First, steel beams (often wide flange sections) are driven or drilled into the ground at regular intervals along the excavation perimeter. As soil is excavated, layers of high-strength shotcrete are applied between the beams, forming a solid and supportive wall face. For added stability in deeper excavations, tieback anchors are often installed to secure the shoring system to stable ground behind the wall. This technique is ideal for variable soil conditions, providing a strong, adaptable solution for complex excavation projects.

Piling

  • Micropiles are high-capacity, small-diameter piles used to support and stabilize foundations in challenging soil conditions or constrained spaces. Typically ranging from 100 to 300 mm in diameter, micropiles are drilled and grouted into place, often reaching significant depths to anchor into stable ground. They consist of a high-strength steel casing or reinforcing bar and are grouted to transfer loads effectively. Micropiles are highly versatile and can support both tension and compression loads, making them ideal for projects with limited access, high load requirements, or where minimal disturbance to surrounding structures is essential. Micropiles are widely used in new construction, retrofitting, and underpinning applications.

  • Cast-in-place piles, also known as caissons, are deep foundation elements created by drilling a hole to the required depth, inserting a reinforcing steel cage, and then filling the shaft with concrete. This method provides strong support for structures on challenging soil or in cases where high load-bearing capacity is essential. The cast-in-place process allows for the customization of pile diameter and depth to suit project requirements, with diameters often ranging from 406 mm to over 2 meters. Caissons are widely used in deep foundation applications, including bridges, high-rise buildings, and large infrastructure projects, where stability and durability are critical.

  • Push Piles also known as Jacked Piers or Push Piers, are another type of deep foundation. They are used for structural support, essentially used to stop settlement and/or raise structure. This type of method uses a smaller diameter steel pipe. Piles advance in the ground formation by the pressure of hydraulic jacks. Prior to the installation of the piles, a steel bracket is mounted to the foundation of the structure acting as the connection. Then, a hydraulic jack ties into that bracket. Pressure gauges are joined into the circuit to monitor the pressures of each zone the pile advances through. When the pile reaches the desired depth, it gets locked off at a designated load. The finished operation is either lifted by the bottle jacks simultaneously to lift the structure or locked off at a certain pressure to resist the structure from moving.

  • Screwpiles also known as Helical Piles are another deep foundation technique used for structural support and/or earth retention projects. Screw piles are galvanized  or bare metal pipe with helical fins that are turned into the ground by various equipment to a required depth. Screwpiles are the most rapid installation pilling; they also cause the least disturbance to the soil during the installation. Screwpiles are known for potentially being the most cost-efficient alternative out of all the piling techniques.

Anchors

  • Rock and soil anchors are high-strength tension elements used to stabilize slopes, retaining walls, and deep excavations by securing the structure to stable ground. These anchors are drilled into rock or soil at precise angles and then grouted into place to ensure maximum bonding and load transfer. Rock anchors are commonly used for structures built on steep or unstable slopes, while soil anchors are ideal for supporting shoring systems and retaining walls in softer soil conditions. By resisting lateral and uplift forces, these anchors provide reliable stabilization for both temporary and permanent applications, making them essential in complex foundation and excavation projects.

  • Tiebacks may be used in conjunction with a variety of retaining systems (sheet piles, soldier piles, secant and tangent walls to provide additional lateral resistance beyond that achievable by a cantilevered wall. Tiebacks are drilled into the ground with a small diameter shaft. They can be horizontal but are typically installed at an angle of 15 to 45 degrees. The tie-backs are constructed of thread bar or steel strands which is inserted into the small drilled borehole. The shaft is grouted which encases the steel and bonds it to the surrounding ground. The steel is stressed to a design load and locked-off to maintain the load on the tie-back. Tie-backs can be installed in one or multiple rows as required to support the excavation depth.

  • Soil nailing is an earth retention technique that reinforces and stabilizes excavation walls and slopes by inserting closely spaced steel bars (soil nails) into the ground. These nails are typically installed at an angle and grouted in place to bond with the surrounding soil, creating a composite soil-structure that resists movement. As excavation progresses, shotcrete or another facing material is applied over the soil nails to form a continuous and stable wall surface. Soil nailing is an efficient, adaptable solution for various soil types and is widely used for retaining walls, slope stabilization, and temporary shoring in confined or urban areas.

Testing

RSFS conducts performance tests on the piles and anchors we install. The performance test provides information to determine if the piles or anchors can withstand the load capacity they were designed for. These tests are measured in compression, tension and/or lateral loads. Load tests can be performed at different stages of the construction. In some cases, these tests are performed at the beginning of the construction phase to determine the capacity the piles or anchors can withstand. Tests are also performed at the end of the construction phase to verify that the anchor or piles can withstand 130-250% of the load capacity design. RSFS has all the equipment readily available to conduct any type of load test to its maximum capacities.

Grouting

  • Cement Grouting is a grouting technique that fills voids with cement-grout. Grout is a cement-based mixture that acts as a bonding agent acting as non-metallic, non-shrink grout. R.S. Foundation Systems uses grout cement for the common uses above.

  • Compaction Grouting is a proven method of stabilizing fine grain soils. It's use of very stiff, mortar-like grout differs fundamentally from conventional or penetration grouting in applicability and injection procedures. The grout is injected with a distinct interface between the grout and soil. It tends to move into the weakest zones and results in an irregular shaped mass. Advantages are, minimum site disturbance and risk, flexibility of scope and applicable where groundwater surface is high.

  • Consolidation Grouting is a grouting technique that closes off open pathways in the specified ground stratum by injecting grout. Consolidation grouting can use compaction, chemical, and/or cement grouting techniques.

Underpinning

Installing either piling and/or shoring for underpinning components, RS Foundations can provide stabilization and/or lifting of existing structure to the designated elevations specified.