We worked on a 4-story wood-frame building near Metrotown. The geotechnical report showed glacial till at 3 meters depth. That meant shallow foundations were viable. But the city's variable fill history required careful verification. We ran plate load tests and CPT soundings to confirm bearing capacity. For sites with buried debris, we recommend combining shallow foundation design with excavaciones profundas to remove unsuitable material before pouring footings.
Glacial till near Burnaby Mountain offers 300 kPa bearing capacity, but fill zones can drop to 80 kPa — verify before pouring.
Service characteristics in Burnaby
- Bearing capacity analysis using Terzaghi and Meyerhof methods
- Settlement estimates for spread footings and mat foundations
- Groundwater influence on net allowable pressure
Typical technical challenges in Burnaby
We mobilize a 20-ton excavator for test pits in Burnaby. The glacial till is dense but can hide boulders. Those boulders cause false refusal in CPT soundings. We correlate with SPT results to confirm. In low-lying areas near Deer Lake, peat layers are common. Shallow foundation design must account for organic soil compression. We use licuefaccion screening for liquefaction-susceptible sands in the Fraser River floodplain. Missing these risks leads to differential settlement.
Our services
We deliver site-specific shallow foundation design for Burnaby projects. Each solution matches local soil conditions and load requirements.
Spread Footing Design
Isolated and continuous footings for light commercial and residential buildings. We calculate bearing capacity and settlement using in-situ test data.
Mat Foundation Design
Raft foundations for medium-rise structures on variable soil. We model soil-structure interaction and differential settlement control.
Frequently asked questions
What soil conditions in Burnaby affect shallow foundation design?
Glacial till provides good bearing capacity near Burnaby Mountain. Fill zones and peat layers near Deer Lake require deeper foundations or ground improvement.
How much does shallow foundation design cost in Burnaby?
The typical range is CA$2,810 to CA$4,540 for a residential project. Commercial sites with complex soil profiles may cost more depending on testing scope.
What is the minimum footing depth for frost protection in Burnaby?
NBCC 2020 requires footings to extend at least 1.2 meters below grade in Burnaby's climate zone. Granular fill beneath footings helps drain water.
Do I need a geotechnical report for shallow foundations in Burnaby?
Yes. Burnaby bylaws require a geotechnical report for most new construction. The report must confirm bearing capacity and address settlement and seismic risks.