Comparing Push Piers vs. Helical Piers: Which Is Right for Your Foundation Introduction
Foundation settlement can cause real headaches for homeowners. When the ground beneath your house shifts or sinks, cracks and uneven floors often follow. In St. Louis, these issues are especially common due to the region’s soil and weather patterns. Underpinning solutions like push piers and helical piers offer ways to stop further damage and restore stability. Both methods are trusted by professionals, but each has its own advantages. With so much at stake, choosing between them can feel overwhelming. How do you know which is right for your home?
What Are Push Piers?
Push piers are strong steel tubes designed to support sinking or settling foundations. They are installed by attaching brackets to your foundation and then hydraulically driving the piers deep into the ground until they reach stable soil or bedrock.
They utilize a hydraulic drive and the counter-weight of your home actually helps push the piers down, ensuring they reach a solid layer that can support the structure.
Push piers are most often used for heavier buildings, such as:
- Multistory homes
- Industrial properties
- Commercial structures
Push piers offer several important benefits for homeowners facing foundation issues. They provide permanent stabilization, helping to prevent future settling and giving you peace of mind about your home’s structure.
These piers can also lift your foundation back to its original position, which can close cracks and restore the level of your floors.
Each installation is tailored to the unique needs of your property, ensuring you get the right support exactly where it is needed most.
However, installation of push piers can take more time compared to other methods. Also, push piers may not be the best fit for lighter structures or certain challenging soil conditions. Speak to a foundation specialist in St. Louis so you can make an educated decision as to whether push piers are right for your property.
What Are Helical Piers?
Helical piers are steel shafts with spiral-shaped plates that are literally screwed into the ground using special hydraulic equipment. This design allows them to dig deep into different types of soil without causing much disturbance.
Helical piers transfer the weight of your home or addition to stable soil layers far below the surface. This helps prevent future settling by anchoring your foundation to ground that will not shift over time. They are also installed using hydraulic drive heads but don’t require counter loading to install or lift the home. This is one major advantage of the two piers.
Using helical piers for foundation repairs is a popular choice for:
- New construction
- Repairing lighter structures
- Repairing additions
- Repairing buildings
- Heavier buildings and buildings comprised of stone, concrete block or poured wall.
The reason helical piers are so popular is that they can be installed without needing the heavy weight of a large building to drive them into place.
Homeowners and contractors appreciate helical piers for their quick installation, minimal excavation, and ability to work in a wide range of soil conditions. This means less disruption to your property and a faster return to normal life.
They also support both downward and upward forces, making them very versatile. This allows helical piers to stabilize foundations against both settling and lifting pressure.
While there are many benefits to helical piers, they tend to cost more per foot than other options.
All types piers may struggle in very soft or rocky soils. Installing them requires specialized equipment. Sometimes, this option requires more space to make room for the installation of equipment.
How to Install Helical Piers vs. Push Piers
The installation of helical piers and push piers involves different steps and equipment, each suited to specific foundation needs. For helical piers, the process begins with a thorough inspection and marking of pier locations.
Contractors then excavate small holes to expose the foundation footing, sometimes needing to remove concrete for access.
Using hydraulic torque motors, the steel shafts with helical plates are screwed deep into the ground until they reach stable soil. Extensions are added as needed, usually when the initial helical pier shaft is not long enough to reach stable, load-bearing soil. Therefore, additional segments are added to continue advancing the pier deeper until the required depth and capacity are achieved.
The footing is notched, and a seated bracket is attached.
Once installed, hydraulic jacks may be used to lift and stabilize the foundation, after which the soil is backfilled and the site is cleaned up.
For push piers, installation starts with excavation to expose the footing. This happens either from outside the home or at the inside by cutting through a basement slab.
A steel bracket is anchored to the footing. Then, steel tube segments are driven through the bracket and into the ground using hydraulic rams.
This method uses the weight of the structure itself to push the piers down to load-bearing soil or bedrock. From there, segments are added until the desired depth or resistance is reached.
The system is then load-tested to ensure stability. Finally, the piers are locked in place, and the area is backfilled.
Key Differences Between Push Pier and Helical Pier Methods
- Helical piers are screwed into the soil using torque motors and do not rely on the building’s weight. They allow for faster installation and minimal soil disturbance, and are suitable for all structures including lighter structures or new construction.
- Push piers are hydraulically driven using the structure’s weight, which prevents their use on garages or some crawlspace homes.
- Installation can be slower and requires more excavation.
- Helical piers tend to have a higher material cost per foot but can be installed more quickly, while push piers may be more cost-effective for deeper installations but require more labor.
Choosing between the two often depends on factors like the weight of the structure, soil conditions, and site accessibility. A professional assessment from a St. Louis foundation specialist is always recommended to determine the best solution for your property.
Push Piers vs. Helical Piers Load-Bearing Capacity
When it comes to load-bearing capacity, push piers and helical piers each have their own strengths. Push piers are typically limited to heavy structures, such as multistory homes or commercial buildings.
They’re especially useful in situations where the bedrock is deep and needs to be reached for stability. However, if bedrock is beyond 30’ deep, deflection of the pier shaft may become a concern. Push piers use the weight of the structure itself to drive the piers down, making them ideal for supporting substantial loads.
Helical piers, on the other hand, are versatile enough to handle both light and heavy loads. They can be installed in a wider variety of soil conditions. In addition, helical piers are designed to support both downward (compression) loads or upward (tension) forces. This makes helical piers a good choice for projects where soil conditions vary or where additional support is needed for lighter structures, additions or heave of I beam posts.
The total number of piers required for either method will depend on several factors, including:
- The weight of your structure
- The severity of the foundation settlement
- The specific soil conditions at your site
A professional evaluation is essential to determine the right type and quantity of piers for your foundation’s needs.
Cost Considerations of Helical Piers vs. Push Piers
Budgeting for foundation repair can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re weighing the pros and cons of different solutions. Helical piers may come with a higher price tag per foot, but they often require less depth and can be installed more quickly. This efficiency can translate to lower labor costs and less disruption around your home, sometimes making the total investment more manageable than you might expect.
Push piers, by contrast, are usually more economical when deep installation is necessary. These savings are incurred thanks to their lower material cost.
However, if your project requires many piers or involves complicated site conditions, expenses can rise quickly. The installation process for push piers is also more time-consuming, which can add to labor costs.
Ultimately, the right choice for your foundation and your wallet depends on a careful evaluation of your home’s needs and the conditions beneath it. Consulting with a trusted professional ensures you get a clear picture of what’s required and helps you make a decision that balances both quality and cost.
Foundation Repair in St. Louis
When it comes to foundation repair in St. Louis, having a licensed professional assess your property is essential. The region’s unique soil conditions and frequent weather changes can create complex foundation challenges that require expert evaluation.
A professional can accurately diagnose the cause and extent of your foundation issues, recommend the best repair methods, and ensure that any solution is tailored to your home’s specific needs. Attempting to address foundation problems without the right expertise can lead to costly mistakes and further damage down the road.
At Stratum Structural Systems, our team combines years of experience with a deep understanding of St. Louis foundations. We are fully licensed and insured, and we pride ourselves on honest assessments, clear communication, and top-quality workmanship.
Whether you need push piers, helical piers, or another solution, we’ll guide you every step of the way and make sure your home is safe and secure for years to come. Trust Stratum Structural Systems for reliable, professional foundation repair. To schedule your assessment or ask questions, call us at (314) 620-8153 or contact us today!
