Autumn 2026
When you look at a Malibu oceanfront home, the first things you notice are the architecture, the views and the proximity to the Pacific. What you don't see is often just as important: the foundation, piles, shoring and other systems working below the surface to support the property.
For homeowners building or rebuilding along the coast, understanding what is happening beneath the house can be just as important as choosing the right windows, finishes or floor plan. Dale Scheffler, owner of D.J. Scheffler & Nye, has spent more than four decades working in foundation drilling, earth shoring and difficult-access construction. The company has completed projects throughout the West, including specialized work in Malibu.
Building on the edge
Malibu presents a combination of challenges that can make ordinary residential construction anything but ordinary. Properties may sit close to the ocean, on steep slopes or in areas where access for large construction equipment is extremely limited.
D.J. Scheffler & Nye specifically highlights its experience with Malibu projects involving tight access, landslide repair and slope stabilization. Its equipment inventory ranges from large drilling rigs to compact machines designed to work in spaces as narrow as 3.5 feet.
Going deeper: the role of pilings
Drilled piles, sometimes called pilings, are structural elements designed to transfer loads through weaker or unstable ground to stronger material below. D.J. Scheffler & Nye describes drilled piles as a solution for structures built on ground subject to movement, with the piles extending through unstable layers to more supportive material.
For homeowners, the concept is relatively simple: rather than relying entirely on the upper layers of soil, engineers can design a foundation system that reaches deeper into the ground. Exactly how deep, how many piles and what type of piling system is appropriate depends on the property's geology, structural requirements and engineering design.
"To successfully navigate a rebuild on the ocean side of PCH, the homeowner must first retain a qualified architect, followed by a structural engineer, a geotechnical engineer, a coastal engineer, and a permit expeditor; only after this professional team has secured the necessary approvals can work on foundation drilling, seawalls, and wastewater treatment construction begin." — Dale Scheffler
More than a seawall
When people think about protecting an oceanfront property, they often picture a seawall. But coastal construction can involve a much broader system of earth retention and stabilization.
D.J. Scheffler & Nye's earth-shoring work includes retaining walls, soldier piles, tiebacks and secant pile walls. Secant pile walls are created from overlapping concrete piles, forming a continuous barrier that can help retain soil and limit ground movement during excavation.
The distinction matters. A structure may need to support an existing home, stabilize a slope, retain soil during excavation or address several of these issues at once.
Don't forget what's underground
The ground beneath an oceanfront property isn't just dirt. Groundwater, soil conditions and existing underground infrastructure can all influence a construction project.
For homeowners with septic systems, that underground infrastructure adds another consideration. Septic performance depends on site conditions and proper design, making it important to understand how the entire property functions below grade. While septic work may involve other specialized professionals, it belongs in the larger conversation about planning an oceanfront property from the ground up.
The same principle applies to foundations and shoring: what happens underground can have consequences for everything above it.
Start with the ground
Perhaps the most useful lesson for a Malibu homeowner is that major coastal construction should not begin with the question, "What do we want the house to look like?" It should begin with, "What is happening beneath the property?"
That means understanding existing foundations, soil and slope conditions, groundwater, access, engineering requirements and the condition of any retaining or coastal structures before construction begins.
D.J. Scheffler & Nye has approached difficult drilling and shoring projects through a combination of specialized equipment, engineering expertise and design/build experience. The company's history traces back to 1979, with Dale Scheffler developing specialized hillside drilling equipment in the 1980s in response to increasingly difficult foundation challenges.
"Oceanfront foundations require a significant investment prior to home construction, but when done properly, they can last a hundred plus years." — Dale Scheffler
For a Malibu homeowner, the takeaway is straightforward: the most important part of the house may be the part you never see. Before the walls go up and the view becomes the centerpiece, there is a much more fundamental job to do — understanding, stabilizing and building on the ground beneath it.