If you have called a professional to ask about foundation repair, they may have suggested steel push piers to fix your home foundation. So what is a steel push pier, and how are they used? Let the experts
GLP Foundation Repair explain.
First, it helps to understand why the home likely needs foundation repair. Expansive soils, including the clay-based soils in most of North Texas, especially Fort Worth and Arlington, can cause major foundation damage. This is because the soil swells and shrinks, depending upon the amount of moisture present in the ground. With all the rIain we received in April and May of 2015.
During times of drought, the soil shrinks. This shrinkage can remove support from the building, leading to sagging and similar problems. In addition, drought can cause cracks to form in the soil around the home. When it finally rains, water can quickly move deeply into the soil through these fissures, causing even more dramatic shrinking and swelling.
When moisture in the soil rises to a normal level or, worse, the ground is saturated during a time of extensive rain, the soil can expand rather dramatically – up to 10 percent or more in volume. The change in soil volume exerts upward and lateral force on the structure.
In both of these situations, the home’s foundation can shift and move, leading to extensive foundation damage and a need for foundation repair.
When a foundation needs repair, steel push piers are often the best choice for homes that need to be lifted. The piers are driven into either rock or load-being soil, raising the home back to its original level. Over the life of the home, steel piers will provide support and stabilizations for the home.
To repair the foundation, a contractor installs piers under the home and mechanically raises the foundation. In the past, the piers used in repairs were made of concrete. Holes were drilled, and the concrete was poured in place. This method does not, however, solve the problem for homes on shifting clay soils, since the clay can move a concrete poured-in-place pier just as it originally moved the foundation.
In contrast, steel piers are designed to penetrate clay soil, eventually being seated on rock or load-bearing materials. The weight of the foundation is then transferred onto the rock, providing a stable support system for the foundation of the home.
Because there is no time needed to dry and cure concrete, steel piers require about one-third of the time to install. They also cause less destruction to the surrounding landscape.
Are you interested in steel piers to repair the foundation of your home? Contact
GLP Foundation Repair today for a free, in-home estimate.
