Charles Scharf, Barrington, IL Tumblr Blog

A civil engineering graduate of Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, Charles Scharf has owned and operated Erosion Specialists Inc. in Barrington, IL, for more than three decades. A member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Mr. Scharf served as the chairman of the Rolling Meadows, IL, Zoning Board of Appeals in the late 1980s. Under the leadership of Charles Scharf, Erosion Specialists Inc. has been part of many major projects in Barrington, as well as the rest of northern Illinois, since its inception, and at its height, the company employed more than 55 people full time. Some notable company projects include creating structural retaining walls and storm inlet systems, participating in watershed preservation, and helping to stabilize the banks of the North Branch of the Chicago River. It also has worked on bank stabilization along a 1,000-foot stretch of the DuPage River's North Branch. In addition to his work as a civil engineer, Mr. Scharf gives back to his community through charitable contributions. For the last 30 years, he has donated to Boys Town’s home for orphaned children. In his leisure time, he collects classic cars, with a focus on 1960s muscle cars and similar vehicles, and is becoming interested in German cars, as well. He stays active through basketball and enjoys getting out onto the water in the summer.

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Soil Nailing for Erosion Control

A Southwestern University graduate, Charles Scharf is a resident of Barrington, IL. Since 1982, Charles Scharf has been the owner and president of Erosion Specialists Inc. in Barrington, IL. Excavation and construction can lead to many erosion problems, but numerous solutions are available for these situations. Where temporary excavation shoring, slope stabilization, existing bridge abutments, or even permanent retaining walls require reinforcement, soil nailing wall construction can be an effective solution. This technique brings stability to the soil where landslides might occur. Soil nailing means that steel bars are driven into the earth to reinforce and anchor the ground. Thus, the rods function similarly to nails to lock the soil into place. Holes for the rods must be pre-drilled and usually have a diameter of four inches. The steel bars are between 0.8 inches and 2 inches in diameter and yield 62 kilopounds per square inch (ksi) to 70 ksi in tensile strength. Soil nailing is appropriate for projects with tight spaces and irregular shapes and where minimum shoring is required. However, it is inadvisable in areas with a high water table or in locations with incompatible sand and gravels.