• Authorized by the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO)
(613) 601 2323
Home > Services > Foundation Engineering & Temporary

Foundation Engineering &
Inspection Services

GCE provides foundation design and Inspection Services for shallow and deep foundations.
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Shallow Foundation Systems
We engineer and evaluate surface-level foundation systems, including:
  • Slab-on-grade foundations
  • Pier and beam foundations
  • Crawlspace foundations
  • Elevated slab foundations
Deep Foundation Systems
For low-bearing soils and high-load structures, we design deep subsurface systems:
  • Precast Concrete piles
  • H or I-Beam piles
  • Secant piles
  • Contiguous piles
  • Sheet piles
  • Diaphragm walls

Key Service Capabilities

Core Substructure & Structural Engineering Practice Areas
Shallow & Deep Foundation Engineering Design & Technical Inspections
  • Shallow Foundations: Structural design and detailing for standard spread footings, continuous strip footings, reinforced raft foundations, and structural mat slabs designed to distribute concentrated column loads.
  • Deep Foundation Systems: Engineering calculations for drilled shafts, caissons, driven steel H-piles, precast concrete piles, micropiles, and helical piles suited for low-bearing-capacity soils or high-rise vertical loads.
  • Retaining Wall Design: Engineering design and stability evaluations for cast-in-place reinforced concrete cantilever retaining walls, gravity walls, and modular block earth-retention systems.
  • On-Site Field Inspections: Bearing-capacity verification, subgrade proof-rolling inspection, reinforcement bar placement checks, and concrete pour reviews prior to foundation backfilling.
  • Excavation Shoring Design: Comprehensive temporary earth retention engineering including soldier pile and timber lagging systems, continuous sheet pile walls, and secant/tangent pile cutoff walls.
  • Lateral Earth Support: Detailed structural calculations and installation layouts for temporary tieback rock/soil anchors, internal steel rakers, walers, and cross-lot bracing systems.
  • Propping & Falsework: Heavy-duty temporary shoring towers, needle beams, and structural propping layouts to support existing loads during major structural alterations or foundation underpinning.
  • Adjacent Structure Protection: Settlement risk analysis, pre-construction condition documentation, and vibration monitoring protocols to protect adjacent properties during deep urban digging.
  • Structural Framing Design: Comprehensive sizing and member selection for structural steel columns, wide-flange beams, trusses, and composite metal deck slabs for industrial warehouses and commercial structures.
  • Connection Detailing & Engineering: Design of high-strength moment-resisting connections, shear tabs, baseplates, and anchor bolt embedment assemblies capable of handling static, seismic, and dynamic wind loads.
  • Shop Drawing Review & Fabrication Check: Rigorous engineering review of structural steel fabricator shop drawings, ensuring geometric tolerances, clear weld symbols, and bolt spacing compliance.
  • Field Connection Verification: On-site visual weld inspections, bolt torque verification testing, and general review sign-offs aligned with CSA standards and the Ontario Building Code.
Project Applications
  • Commercial & Residential High-Rises: Multi-tiered basement excavations, tower caisson groups, and raft foundation slabs.
  • Industrial Warehouses & Distribution Hubs:Heavy-duty slab-on-grade design, equipment machine pads, and wide-span structural steel framing.
  • Underpinning & Basement Deepening: Sequential underpinning systems for residential renovations, secondary suite walkouts, and load-bearing alterations.
  • Infrastructure & Civil Assets: Abutment foundations, retaining walls, railway support frameworks, and bridge substructures..

PROCESS

Engineering Methodology

Visual Inspection & Field Investigation

On-site condition surveys, exploratory openings, moisture readings, and thermal imaging.

Diagnostic Evaluation & Technical Reporting

Preparing engineering reports on defect root causes, code compliance, and prioritized recommendations.

Remediation Engineering & Specifications

Developing engineering repair drawings, assembly details, material standards, and tender packages.

Field Review & Quality Assurance

Engineering reviews during remediation to verify membranes, flashing, and sealants against drawings.

Comprehensive Foundation Inspections & Structural Reports
Our licensed professional engineers provide accurate engineering drawings and thorough on-site inspections. During our structural site visits, we meticulously document visible cracks, assess patterns of movement and settlement, and evaluate drainage and soil conditions. Following the inspection, we provide a detailed written engineering report complete with our findings and professional recommendations.

Discuss Your Foundation Project:

(613) 601 2323
info@gcelgroup.com

Request an Engineering or Project Proposal

Please complete the form below. Provide as much preliminary project context or drawing details as possible for an accurate technical response.

  • Phone Numbers
Direct Line: +1 (613) 601-2323
Office Line: +1 (613) 230-7007
  • Email Addresses

General Inquiries & RFPs:

info@gcelgroup.com

Executive / Technical Inquiries: mafard@gcelgroup.com

Careers & Resumes:

info@gcelgroup.com