Saving a Vancouver Apartment Building: The Technical Challenge of a 7-Inch Foundation Lift
When most people think about foundation repair, they picture a cracked basement wall or a sinking sidewalk.
This project was something entirely different.
In Vancouver, an aging multi-family residential building had experienced significant foundation settlement. Over time, portions of the structure had sunk to the point where stabilization alone was no longer enough. The building required a major structural lift and permanent foundation support system to restore lost elevation and prevent further movement.
The solution involved installing over 40 engineered push pier systems beneath the structure and carefully raising portions of the building by as much as seven inches while maintaining the integrity of the existing structure.
For many property owners, a project of this magnitude can feel overwhelming. The engineering requirements, permits, inspections, consultant coordination, tenant considerations, and municipal approvals can quickly become more complex than the repair itself.
That is where True Level Concrete steps in.
Unlike a single-family home, apartment buildings introduce an entirely different level of complexity.
Every inch of movement affects:
The objective was not simply to stop future settlement.
The goal was to restore the building as close as possible to its original elevation while creating a permanent support system capable of carrying structural loads into suitable bearing strata below the existing foundation.
Because every structure reacts differently when lifted, the final amount of recovery had to be determined through ongoing monitoring, engineering review, and careful load transfer throughout the lifting process.
Major foundation lifts are not construction projects that can proceed based on assumptions.
Before any lifting work could begin, the project required collaboration between structural and geotechnical engineers.
Structural engineers were retained to:
The engineering scope specifically included detailed structural analysis and design of the push pier system and multiple site reviews throughout construction.
At the same time, geotechnical engineers evaluated soil conditions and provided recommendations regarding foundation support and deep foundation performance. They also accepted responsibility for field review and geotechnical compliance during construction.
Without this engineering coordination, a project of this scale would not receive permit approval.
One of the most overlooked aspects of major foundation repair is permitting.
Many property owners are surprised to learn that structural lifting projects often require:
For this project, formal applications were submitted to the City of Vancouver for foundation stabilization and repair of an existing residential structure. The permit package required coordination between registered structural and geotechnical professionals and formal commitments for design review and field inspection throughout construction.
While some contractors stop at construction, True Level Concrete managed the process from the beginning.
Our responsibilities included:
The project contract specifically required True Level Concrete to coordinate engineering services, apply for permits, coordinate inspections, provide engineering documentation, and obtain a successful final City of Vancouver inspection.
Large building lifts involve much more than installing foundation supports.
Prior to lifting, the project team had to coordinate:
The project documentation identified responsibilities involving CCTV inspections of drain lines, excavation work, removal of obstacles, access preparation, temporary protections, and restoration activities following the lift.
These are often the issues that create delays when owners attempt to coordinate large-scale repairs independently.
Because foundation stabilization is highly specialized, engineers, municipalities, contractors, and property owners must all be aligned throughout the process.
One missed approval or incomplete submission can delay a project for weeks.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project is what it represents.
Across British Columbia, many aging apartment buildings are facing difficult decisions. As settlement progresses, owners are often told that demolition or redevelopment may be the only viable path forward.
In reality, many of these buildings can be successfully renewed.
By restoring foundation support and recovering lost elevation, existing housing stock can continue serving communities for decades to come.
Projects like this preserve:
Rather than replacing the building, the structure was renewed.
The result was a stabilized foundation system designed to permanently support the building while helping protect valuable rental housing in a city where affordable housing continues to be in short supply.
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“How long does it take to lift an entire building?”
Surprisingly, the actual lift can happen much faster than most people expect.
For this project, the building was lifted and stabilized in a single day.
The dramatic moment when a multi-family apartment building was raised by as much as seven inches happened over the course of carefully controlled hydraulic lifting operations. As loads were transferred onto 48 engineered push pier systems, the structure gradually returned toward its original elevation while engineers and technicians continuously monitored how the building responded.
What takes the most time is everything that happens before the lift.
Months of preparation went into making that single day possible. Structural and geotechnical engineers had to evaluate the building and soil conditions, design the support system, prepare sealed drawings, obtain permits, coordinate inspections, and develop a lifting strategy. Site access had to be prepared, excavation completed, utilities identified, and every stage of the work reviewed to ensure the building could be safely lifted while remaining structurally sound.
In many ways, a major building lift is like an iceberg. The day of the lift is the part everyone sees. The engineering, permitting, planning, and coordination that make it possible happen behind the scenes.
That’s where experience matters.
At True Level Concrete, we guide property owners through the entire process—from the initial assessment and engineering coordination to permits, inspections, lifting, stabilization, and final occupancy approvals. By managing these highly technical requirements on behalf of our clients, we’re able to turn what can seem like an overwhelming project into a structured and predictable process.
Most property owners will only encounter a project like this once in their lifetime.
Our team deals with them every day.
We understand that owners are not structural engineers, geotechnical consultants, or permit specialists. They should not have to become experts in municipal permitting just to save their building.
True Level Concrete bridges that gap
Most importantly, we provide property owners with a clear path forward when the technical requirements seem overwhelming.
When significant settlement threatens a building, the goal is not simply to repair concrete.
The goal is to protect the structure, preserve occupancy, and extend the life of the building for future generations.
That is exactly what this project was designed to accomplish.
