Foundation piers: concrete, steel and helical
The pier system is one of the biggest differences between two foundation bids for the same Texarkana house. Here's how the common types compare.
A pier carries the weight of a settled part of the foundation down through the clay that's shrinking and swelling to deeper soil that moves less. Companies tend to favor one system, so bids can disagree on pier type, pier count and depth. Knowing the basics makes it easier to ask the right questions.
How do the main pier types compare?
| Pressed concrete | Steel push | Helical | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it goes in | Short precast cylinders pressed down one on top of another | Steel pipe sections driven hydraulically against the house's weight | A steel shaft with helix plates screwed into the soil |
| When it stops | When the press meets resistance | At refusal on firm soil or rock | At a target installation torque |
| Often used for | Residential slabs on clay | Heavier loads with firm bearing at depth | Lighter loads, porches, additions |
| Ask about | Typical depth, and whether segments are tied together | Depth and pressure at each pier | Torque record for each pier |
Pressed concrete piers
Precast concrete segments are stacked and pressed into the ground with a hydraulic jack until they resist, then capped and shimmed under the beam. They're widely used on houses in clay country. Ask how deep they usually reach in your part of town and whether a cable or rod runs through the segments.
Steel push piers
Also called resistance piers. A steel bracket is bolted to the footing, and pipe sections are driven down using the weight of the house as the reaction. Each pier gives a pressure reading, so you can get a log showing what every pier reached.
Helical piers
A helical pier looks like a large screw. It's turned in with a hydraulic drive head, and the torque needed to turn it is used to estimate how much it can carry. Because it doesn't depend on the building's weight to install, it's common for light loads.
What should I ask about any pier plan?
- Why this pier type for my house and soil?
- How many piers, where, and how far apart? Can I see it on a drawing?
- How deep have you gone on similar houses nearby?
- Will I get a pier log with depth and pressure or torque?
- Who calls Texas811 or Arkansas811 for utility locates before digging?
We don't quote prices. The contractor prices the repair after taking floor elevations and figuring out why the house is moving, and any number given over the phone before that is only a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Which kind of pier is best?
There isn't one answer. It depends on the house's weight, the soil and how deep firmer bearing is. Ask each contractor why they chose their system for your house.
What is a pier log?
A record of each pier's location, depth and installation pressure or torque. Keep it with your warranty; it helps with future claims and with buyers.
Related services
- Slab foundation repair
- Pier-and-beam leveling
- Foundation drainage
- Foundation evaluation and crack repair
More background: Texarkana foundation repair guide.
Brick cracking, doors dragging, or a floor that's started to tilt?
Call and a Texarkana-area foundation contractor will come take measurements and explain what's moving.