Structural Issues Discovered at Local Theater

Noticing Cracks in the Foundation

Last week our managers were outside of the building trying to get some of the homeless people away from the dumpster areas because they were making a mess and distracting customers. After they got them to leave and they were beginning to clean up the mess that was left behind, they noticed some large horizontal cracks in the theaters foundation.

They knew this wasn’t a good sign and informed the owners of the potential serious problem. So we began looking on Yelp for contractors that did foundation work because we figured that they would also do foundation inspections. The foundation contractor we spoke to informed us that we would be better contacting a structural engineer because they would have more education and knowledge on what could have caused the cracking of the foundation and would be better able to get to the root of the problem.

He said he would appreciate it if we called him once we found out how to fix the problem because that is more of his specialty. We continued our search on Yelp and we found structural engineer denver. What really drew us to them was all of the five star reviews that other customers had left them. Some of the great things that clients mentioned was that they were very prompt in responding to inquiries, provided very affordable services, and that they specialized in structural engineer inspections.

We knew that if we wanted to continue our operations as usual and to keep our patrons safe from potential structural collapse, we needed to contact these professional structural engineers as soon as possible.

Structural Engineer’s Inspection

The structural engineering firm called us back within an hour and we explain our dilemma to them. They explained to us that horizontal cracking in our theaters foundation was definitely a cause for concern but not to worry because they were the right people for the job and ensured us that they will provide us with the information needed to get it fixed.

Luke showed up with his laptop and a bunch of cool gadgets that help him figure out what’s going wrong with buildings. One of these gadgets was something called an “altimeter.” You might think it’s something astronauts or pilots use, but engineers like Luke use it too! This tool helps him see if the floor is straight or if it’s saggy like an old mattress.

Guess what? Luke found out that the theater’s floor was super saggy in some places. That’s a big deal! Saggy floors can mean there’s something really wrong underneath, like the building’s foundation—the part that keeps it standing—is messed up. Luke said the saggy floors are probably because the foundation is sinking into the ground slowly, kind of like when you step in mud and your shoe gets stuck. He also said the wooden beams under the floor, called “joists,” might be weak or damaged.

Now, here’s the cool part: Luke connected the dots. He said the saggy floors inside the theater are probably why there are cracks in the building’s outside walls. It’s like when you pull on one end of a string, and the other end moves too. Everything in a building is connected, so if one part is messed up, other parts can get messed up too.

So, Luke didn’t just find the problem; he told us why it’s happening and how it’s affecting the whole building. That’s like being a detective but for buildings! He used his special tools and know-how to give us the full picture, not just bits and pieces. And that’s why people like Luke are so important when buildings have issues. They help us understand what’s really going on so we can fix it the right way.

Luke said for an additional $1200 he can design the exact structural repair plans that will be needed to fix the problem and that these blueprints can be given directly to any foundation repair contractor to complete the physical repair work. We had done our research prior to Luke’s arrival and we had seen structural repair design prices go as high as $5,000. We agreed to Luke’s proposal and he began to design the repairs.

The Structural Repair Design Process

First up, Luke did what he called a “thorough inspection.” Imagine this like a doctor checking you from head to toe when you’re not feeling well. Luke looked at the building’s foundation, which is like its backbone, and the structural framing, which is like its skeleton. He was on the hunt for all sorts of issues—like cracks that shouldn’t be there, parts that have moved or shifted, or even places where the wood has rotted away. It’s like he was a detective, looking for clues that tell him what’s going wrong.

But wait, there’s more! Luke also checked out the soil around the foundation. Why? Well, if the soil is too wet or not packed right, it can mess with the foundation, kind of like how you’d sink into a muddy field. He wanted to see if bad soil or water drainage was making the foundation problems worse.

Once he gathered all these clues, Luke moved on to the next step. He figured out what needed to be fixed or made stronger. For example, he talked about “sistering new joists.” That’s a fancy way of saying he’d put new, strong wooden beams next to the old, weak ones to make them stronger. He also thought about adding extra supports and fixing the cracks in the foundation. And get this—he made sure all his plans followed the rules for safe building and used the best engineering tricks to make the repairs super strong.

Now, here comes the techy part. Luke used a computer program to make what’s called CAD drawings. These are like super-detailed blueprints that show exactly where and how to fix things. It’s like a treasure map for builders, showing them where to dig and what to do. He made sure to include all the tiny details so that the people fixing the building would know exactly what to do.

We were super impressed with how Luke explained everything. It’s like he was translating a foreign language into something we could understand. We felt like we could totally trust him. His price of $1200 for all this detailed planning seemed like a great deal, especially when we thought about how much it would save us in the long run by making sure everything was fixed right the first time.

So, there you have it. Luke wasn’t just doing a job; he was like a building superhero, making sure everything would be safe and strong for years to come. And that’s why we felt super confident saying yes to his plan.

Hiring the Repair Contractor

So, after Luke gave us his super-detailed plans, it felt like we hit the jackpot. We took those plans and started a bidding war among local foundation repair companies. The best part? We could easily compare their quotes because they were all working off Luke’s playbook.

We ended up picking Foundation Works, and let me tell you, these guys are the real deal. They had killer reviews on Yelp and Facebook, and they’re all about being green. It’s like hiring a chef who not only whips up delicious meals but also cares about sourcing organic ingredients.

Now, let’s talk about Ed, the head honcho at Foundation Works. He sat down with us and broke down Luke’s plans like he was telling us a story. He made all the technical jargon easy to understand, explaining how they’d fix our sagging floors and shaky foundation. We felt super comfortable, like we were in good hands.

Once we gave them the thumbs-up, the Foundation Works crew got to work. And man, they were stealthy! They were so considerate that they didn’t disrupt our day-to-day operations at all. They even worked nights and weekends to get the job done. Talk about going the extra mile!

In just two weeks—yeah, only 14 days—they finished all the repairs and aced the city’s building inspection. It felt like winning the lottery twice in a row.

So there you have it. From Luke’s expert planning to Foundation Works’ top-notch work, our theater is now as solid as a rock. And the best part? We can get back to putting on awesome shows without the fear of our theater falling apart.

Positive Outcome

So, fast-forward a few months after all the repair work, and guess what? Our theater is holding up like a champ. Seriously, not a single crack in the foundation or a creaky floorboard in sight. It’s like our building went from being a rickety old house to a fortress.

Luke, our go-to structural engineer, was the game-changer here. He was like the detective who cracked a super complicated case. He gave us a plan that was so spot-on, it was like he had a crystal ball or something. And Foundation Works? They were the artists who brought Luke’s vision to life, down to the last nail and bolt.

But here’s the kicker: we’ve had zero—yup, zero—issues since the repairs. It’s like our theater took a sip from the fountain of youth. The floors are sturdy, and the walls are like, “Hey, we’re not going anywhere!” It’s a total 180 from where we started, and it feels amazing.

So, if you’re sitting on the fence about getting your building checked, take it from us: don’t wait. We can’t rave enough about how awesome Luke and Foundation Works are. They’re like the superheroes of structural issues. And trust me, you don’t want to ignore the warning signs. A stitch in time saves nine, right? Getting the pros in early can save you a ton of stress down the line.

So, if you’re dealing with anything that even smells like a structural issue, give Luke and Foundation Works a call. Your building—and your peace of mind—will thank you.