House Foundation
Construction & Repair

We bring the same creative problem-solving solutions to your house foundation project.
TerraCana – Home Foundation Contractor

Certifications & partnerships

House Foundation Construction & Repair

TerraCana works with architects and engineers preparing specifications for new homes. We also offer visual inspections and estimates to homeowners who suspect they have foundation problems.

These homeowners are often worried and have many questions. How serious are the warning signs? What are the options for repairing the damage? What costs are involved? How intrusive is the work?

Our goal is to remove all mystery from the process so you can feel reassured knowing that you have a reliable foundation. TerraCana has decades of experience building and restoring foundations of all kinds across Metro Vancouver and Western Canada.

Need an estimate on your new home’s foundation cost?

House Foundation Applications

01

New Home Foundations

We work directly with architects and structural engineers on new builds. Our in-house engineering team coordinates with your permit drawings and installs the right pile system for site conditions.

02 Foundation Underpinning

When a foundation is sinking or has lost bearing capacity, we install piles through the existing footing into competent soil below. On a Southlands residential building that had sunk 4 to 5 inches on unstable wet ground, compression piles at both ends of the structure halted the movement and restored structural integrity.

03

Retaining Walls & Slope Stability

A failing retaining wall at the rear of a West Vancouver home on a steep slope was threatening the house foundation. TerraCana custom designed a helical pile supported retaining wall using compression and tieback piles with cast-in-place concrete, stabilising the slope and protecting the home long term.

Types of House Foundation Solutions

TerraCana offers several engineered foundation systems for residential construction and repair. The right system depends on your soil conditions, structure type, and site access.

Helical Pile Underpinning

The most widely used residential underpinning solution. Installed through the existing footing, advanced into bearing soil below, and used to lift and stabilize the structure. Works in tight access, no heavy machinery required on your lawn, minimal site disturbance.

Driven Pipe Pile Underpinning

Where soil conditions and access allow, driven pipe piles provide a high-capacity underpinning solution. TerraCana crews have installed driven piles beneath homes, additions, and outbuildings throughout the Lower Mainland and across BC.

Micropiles

Where access is extremely limited, such as inside an existing basement or beneath a low-clearance structure, micropiles offer a compact and powerful solution. They can be installed at angles that larger equipment cannot reach.

Advantages of Piled House Foundations

Works in Tight Access

Equipment fits through gates, beside existing structures, and in constrained yard spaces. We have completed residential projects that other contractors could not access.

Minimal Site Disruption

Helical pile installation requires compact equipment and produces no spoils. Most residential projects are completed in days without damaging your yard, driveway, or landscaping

Immediate Load Transfer

Unlike concrete underpinning, which requires curing time, piled systems transfer load immediately after installation. No waiting period before the structure is reloaded.

Proof Tested on Installation

Every pile is monitored during installation. Where required, proof testing confirms actual capacity rather than relying on estimates alone

There are significant benefits from a structural and design perspective

Need a Foundation Solution for restricted access or difficult ground conditions?

Engineering and Design

TerraCana is not just a crew that shows up with equipment. Working alongside engineering partner StrucTec, TerraCana brings technical design capability to every project from the first site visit through to installation.

Having a dedicated engineering partnership means the foundation solution can be designed, optimized for cost and performance, and installed by one coordinated team. This is what separates TerraCana from contractors who only install what someone else has designed.

For residential projects this matters because conditions on site often differ from what a geotechnical report describes. Having engineering support close to the work means faster decisions and better outcomes when conditions change.

Dealing With Foundation Problems

BC’s soil conditions, climate, and aging housing stock create a predictable set of foundation problems. TerraCana has resolved all of them.

Settling & Sinking Foundations

When a foundation sinks into soft or unstable soil, the structure above shows the signs: cracks, sticking doors, sloping floors. Helical pile underpinning stabilizes the foundation at depth and can lift the structure back toward level.

Bowing or Cracked Basement Walls

Lateral soil and water pressure on basement walls causes bowing and cracking over time. Helical anchors installed through the wall and into the soil behind it provide a measurable, proof-tested solution to wall movement.

Soft or Unsuitable Soil for New Construction

Many sites in the Lower Mainland have soft marine clay, organic soils, or fill that cannot support a conventional shallow foundation. TerraCana designs pile systems that transfer building loads past the poor material to firm bearing below.

Tight Access & Low Headroom

Older homes, lane houses, and tight urban lots often limit equipment access. Our crews work with compact machines through gates, inside basements, and in confined yard spaces to complete projects that others cannot.