Vancouver Basement Restoration in Residential Facility

The Challenge

A multi-resident building in Vancouver was experiencing significant concrete settlement issues throughout their ground floor. The concrete slab had settled dramatically, with measurements showing between three to seven inches of depression across the entire basement area. This included critical spaces like the mechanical room which houses essential building systems.

The severe settlement created an uneven living environment, posed potential safety hazards for residents and staff, and would have required an excessive amount of self-leveling compound to correct through traditional methods. The facility managers needed a solution that would minimize disruption to the residents while effectively resolving the structural issues.

Our Solution

The Level Best Concrete Lifting team conducted a thorough assessment of the property and developed a comprehensive plan to address the extensive settlement. Given the presence of plumbing and mechanical systems beneath the slab, we took extra precautions before beginning the lifting process.

What We Did:

1. Preliminary Safety Measures: Before any lifting began, we coordinated with building management to have the water shut off to prevent any potential issues with plumbing systems during the lifting process.
2. Plumbing Inspection: A professional scope of all plumbing lines beneath the affected areas occured to ensure no damage would occur during the lift and to document the pre-existing condition of these systems.
3. Mechanical Room Restoration: We carefully lifted the mechanical room floor slab by 3-4 inches, bringing it back to level with the stem wall while ensuring all equipment remained properly positioned and undisturbed.
4. Main Living Areas Restoration: The front living room areas required even more significant lifting—more than 5 inches in some sections—to restore proper levelness throughout the space.
5. Final Levelling and Inspection: Once all sections were raised to the appropriate height, we performed a final inspection to ensure even transitions between all areas and proper alignment with fixed structural elements.

The Results

The transformation was remarkable. What was once a severely uneven surface with up to 7 inches of settlement was restored to a proper, level condition throughout the entire basement area. The mechanical room now provides stable support for essential building systems, and the living spaces offer safe, comfortable environments for residents.

By using our polyurethane foam lifting technique, we were able to complete this substantial restoration without the extensive demolition, reconstruction, and lengthy timeline that would have been required with concrete replacement. Additionally, the facility avoided the need for a large amount of self-levelling compound, which would have been costly and potentially problematic over time.

Benefits & Takeaways

The facility management was extremely pleased with the results. Our solution provided multiple benefits:

• Significantly reduced disruption to residents compared to alternative solutions
• Eliminated safety hazards from uneven floors
• Restored proper functionality to critical mechanical areas
• Saved substantial costs compared to concrete replacement or extensive self-leveling applications
• Completed the project efficiently, minimizing the impact on daily operations
• Provided a long-term solution rather than a temporary fix

Is This Solution Right for You?

If you manage a multi-resident building, care facility, or any structure with concrete slab issues in Vancouver or surrounding areas, this solution could be ideal for your needs. Watch for these warning signs:

• Noticeable sloping or unevenness in floor surfaces
• Visible gaps between floor slabs and walls
• Doors that stick or don’t close properly due to frame misalignment
• Cracks appearing in floor finishes or walls
• Areas where water pools rather than drains properly

Addressing these issues promptly can prevent them from worsening and avoid more costly repairs in the future.

Contact Level Best Concrete Lifting

Our specialized team at Level Best Concrete Lifting has extensive experience with complex concrete lifting projects in residential care facilities, multi-unit buildings, and similar structures throughout Vancouver. We understand the importance of minimizing disruption while providing effective, lasting solutions for your concrete settlement issues.