How Helical Piers Stabilize a Settling Foundation
Foundation settlement can show up as cracked brick, uneven floors, sticking doors, gaps around windows, or sections of a home that appear to be sinking. While these symptoms may start small, continued movement beneath a foundation can lead to more significant structural problems. Helical piers provide a long-term solution by transferring the weight of the affected structure away from unstable surface soils and to stronger supporting soil below. If you are noticing signs of foundation settlement, call TFS – The Foundation Specialists or fill out the form below to schedule your FREE foundation inspection. Our team can identify what is causing the movement and determine whether a pier system is the right solution for your home.
Why Do Foundations Settle?
A foundation depends on the soil underneath it for support. When that soil changes, the foundation above it can move as well.
Soil conditions can change because of prolonged dry weather, excessive moisture, erosion, poor drainage, or improperly compacted fill soil. As soil loses its ability to support the structure evenly, portions of the foundation may begin to sink.
Common signs of settlement include:
- Stair-step cracks in brick or masonry
- Cracks around doors and windows
- Uneven or sloping floors
- Doors or windows that stick
- Gaps between walls, ceilings, or floors
- Cracks in foundation walls
- Separating exterior trim or brick
Repairing these visible symptoms alone does not address the movement occurring underneath the home. A foundation repair system must address the source of the instability.
What Are Helical Piers?
Helical piers are steel foundation supports consisting of a central shaft with circular, helix-shaped plates attached to it. Their appearance is similar to a large screw.
Instead of relying on the unstable soil immediately underneath a foundation, the system is advanced deeper into the ground until it reaches soil capable of supporting the structure.
Once installed, the pier can be connected to the foundation with a specially designed bracket. The weight of the affected portion of the structure can then be transferred through the pier and into more reliable soil.
Think of it as creating a deeper, more dependable support point for the home rather than continuing to depend on soil that has already allowed settlement to occur.
How Are Helical Piers Installed?
One advantage of this type of foundation repair is that installation can be completed with relatively small equipment and targeted excavation around the affected areas.
1. Identify the Settlement
The process begins with a detailed foundation inspection. A specialist evaluates visible damage, measurements, and other indicators of movement to determine where settlement is occurring.
2. Access the Foundation
Small areas of soil are excavated around the locations where the piers need to be installed. This exposes the foundation footing and creates room for the repair system.
3. Advance the Piers Into the Soil
The steel pier sections are mechanically rotated into the ground. The helix-shaped plates help pull the pier deeper as it turns.
Installation continues until the system reaches the required supporting soil and installation criteria.
4. Connect the Foundation
Once the pier is properly positioned, a steel bracket connects the pier to the foundation. The home’s load can then be transferred from the problem soil to the newly established support.
5. Stabilize the Structure
With the pier system supporting the affected portion of the home, further settlement can be stopped. Depending on the home’s condition and other factors, an attempt may also be made to recover some of the lost elevation.
Why Screw-Shaped Piers Work
The shape is what makes this foundation repair method unique.
The helix plates allow the pier to advance through the ground while also providing bearing surfaces within supporting soil. Rather than simply filling a crack or repairing cosmetic damage, the system addresses the structural support beneath the foundation.
That distinction is important. Foundation settlement is ultimately a support problem. Creating dependable support below the affected area helps address the reason the foundation moved in the first place.
Where Can Helical Piers Be Used?
These systems are particularly versatile and can support both lighter and heavier structures. TFS may use them for applications such as:
- Settling home foundations
- Porches and stoops
- Decks
- Wing walls
- Additions
- Other structures requiring additional foundation support
They can also be useful when access is limited because installation can often be performed using smaller equipment.
Helical Piers vs. Push Piers
Homeowners researching foundation repair may also encounter push piers. Both systems are designed to transfer structural loads to stronger soil, but they are installed differently.
Push piers are hydraulically driven into the ground and use the weight of the structure during installation. A helical system is mechanically rotated into the soil and can be used for structures with different load requirements.
Neither system is automatically the best choice for every foundation. Soil conditions, structural weight, accessibility, and the type of settlement all help determine which repair method should be used.
Find the Right Foundation Repair Solution With TFS
Foundation cracks and uneven floors may be what you see inside or outside your home, but the real problem could be developing underground. Helical piers can permanently stabilize a settling foundation by creating new support in stronger soil below the structure instead of relying on unstable soils near the surface. The right solution, however, starts with determining exactly why your foundation is moving. Call TFS – The Foundation Specialists or fill out the form below to schedule your FREE foundation inspection. Our team will evaluate your home, explain what is causing the settlement, and recommend a foundation repair plan designed for your property’s specific needs.
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