Local Expertise You Can Build On

With thousands of completed projects across the Tampa Bay region, our team combines field experience with rigorous engineering to deliver reliable designs and practical solutions. From waterfront homes and mid-rise structures to roadway improvements and municipal utilities, we understand how Clearwater’s coastal soils, shallow groundwater, and solution-weathered limestone influence performance and constructability.

Meet Our Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Jay Chen, Ph.D., P.E. — Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Dr. Chen leads our Clearwater operations with decades of Florida practice, focusing on subsurface characterization, settlement control, and cost-effective foundation systems tailored to local geology and groundwater conditions.

Phone: 813-317-3888   Email: jchen001@tampabay.rr.com

Why Geotechnical Engineering Matters in Clearwater

Clearwater’s construction environment presents distinct challenges: variable coastal sands, solution-weathered limestone, zones with elevated sinkhole susceptibility, and tidal influences that affect groundwater and dewatering. Early geotechnical involvement reduces uncertainty, helps prevent delays, and supports long-term performance.

Our approach emphasizes site-specific investigation, quantitative analysis, and constructible recommendations so owners and contractors can move forward with confidence.

Geotechnical Engineering Services

• Site feasibility studies and due-diligence evaluations
• Subsurface exploration: SPT borings and CPT soundings
• Laboratory testing and engineering soil classification
• Foundation engineering and settlement analysis
• Recommendations for shallow, deep, and hybrid systems
• Ground improvement design: stone columns, soil mixing, grouting
• Earth retention and temporary shoring design
• Slope stability assessments and earth structure design
• Pavement design and roadway subgrade improvement
• Groundwater control and permanent dewatering system design
• Forensic evaluations and expert witness services

All deliverables are tailored to Clearwater’s coastal conditions, anticipated structural loads, construction sequencing, and budget objectives.

Land Surveying and Subsurface Exploration

• Boundary and topographic surveys
• ALTA/NSPS land title surveys
• Construction layout and quality control surveys
• Wetland delineation and hydrographic surveys
• Geophysical surveys: ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity imaging

Our regional database of soil and rock conditions in Pinellas County expedites planning and reduces exploratory costs when appropriate.

Sinkhole Investigation and Remediation

We perform comprehensive evaluations to identify karst-related risks and restore stability when distress is confirmed.

• Historic data review and geologic mapping
• Structural condition surveys of affected improvements
• Geophysical screening (GPR and ERI) for void detection
• Confirmatory drilling, sampling, and index/property testing
• Engineered remediation: compaction grouting, permeation grouting
• Underpinning with helical piers or pin piles where appropriate
• Rock throat excavation and stabilization techniques

Programs are designed to control settlement, mitigate void migration, and return structures to service with clear verification criteria.

Ground Improvement and Foundation Support

When soils require modification, we design systems that balance performance, constructability, and cost:

• Vibro-compaction and stone column installations for loose sands
• Soil-cement mixing and grouting to reduce compressibility
• Dewatering and groundwater management for excavation support
• Hybrid solutions combining ground improvement with deep elements

Service Areas

We serve Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Largo, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg, and surrounding communities across Pinellas County.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I order a geotechnical investigation?

Ideally during due diligence or early design so foundation options, dewatering needs, and earthwork budgets are based on measured conditions rather than assumptions.

Do I always need deep foundations near the coast?

Not always. Many sites support shallow systems after ground improvement. We evaluate bearing capacity, settlement, groundwater, and construction access to select the most cost-effective approach.

How fast can you mobilize?

Exploration lead time depends on access and permitting. We typically schedule borings within a short window and provide preliminary recommendations promptly after lab results are complete.

Contact Foundation Masters, LLC — Clearwater’s Geotechnical Experts

If you are planning new construction, evaluating site risks, or addressing subsurface concerns in Clearwater or Pinellas County, we can help.

Call 813-614-1718 or email info@foundationmasters.com to discuss your project.

Looking for structural services? Visit our
Structural Engineer Clearwater page.
For foundation repairs, see
Foundation Repair Clearwater.