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When it comes to addressing foundation issues, homeowners often find themselves faced with a critical decision: should they opt for helical piers vs push piers? Each of these foundation repair methods has its own unique advantages. Let's look at the Pros and Cons so you can make choice between them depends on the nature of the damage and the desired long-term foundation solution.

Understanding Helical Piers

Helical piers, engineered steel foundation pins designed to resemble screws, come complete with helical plates that provide stability and strength. A hydraulic system drives these piers into the soil at varying depths, depending on the specific soil conditions. Helical piers are well-suited for repairing foundations with structural integrity issues. They are especially effective in cases where the soil’s composition poses challenges in supporting a structure’s weight.

When Are Helical Piers the Ideal Choice?

Helical piers are a top choice when there are cracks in the foundation. Homeowners prefer them to avoid the extensive and costly excavation typically associated with repairs. Their unique design enables them to thread into the soil, enhancing strength and stability. This makes them a preferred choice in regions with poor soil conditions, which can create support challenges.

The Mechanics Behind Helical Piers

A key aspect of helical pier installation is drilling them into the soil like a big screw until they reach the appropriate depth to support the structure effectively. Engineers carefully calculate the spatial distribution of these piers, considering the weight they need to disperse. When using helical piers for foundation repair, workers securely fasten brackets to the base of the foundation walls. This arrangement ensures that the weight is evenly distributed, thereby enhancing stability. When properly executed, helical piers can withstand astonishing loads of up to 500 tons, equivalent to supporting a ten-story structure.

Push piers are supporting structures that are also made from steel and driven into the soil to aid in foundation repair and support. These solutions are suitable for repairing foundations damaged by settlement issues. You can install them either on the exterior or interior of the foundation walls, but once completed, they won’t be visible either way. Advantages of Push Piers are that they generally can stop settlement issues while lifting the foundation back into its original alignment. That will help to close up cracks, and if you are experiencing window and door opening problems, push piers should fix them, too.

Push piers, similar to helical piers, utilize brackets installed just below the footings during installation. Then, the steel piers are hydraulically driven directly through the original brackets until they reach stable soil conditions. Next, the piers transfer the weight of the structure to the stable soil below. Sometimes, contractors employ push piers to restore a shifted structure back to its original position when foundation issues arise.

The choice of which method is most appropriate depends on the severity of the damage. Push piers support lifting a home back into its original position when structural shifting occurs due to settlement issues. Both helical piers and push piers are a great option for large excavation efforts and are an effective and fast fix for foundation damage. Helical piers tend to work best with lighter structures. When the structure is not heavy enough to drive push piers to the necessary depths, a helical pier might be a better fix.

Exploring Push Piers

Push piers, like helical piers, consist of steel and drive into the soil to aid in foundation repair and support. They are particularly effective when addressing foundation damage resulting from settlement issues. Push piers can install either on the exterior or interior of foundation walls, and they remain inconspicuous once the installation is complete. These piers play a vital role in stopping settlement problems while simultaneously restoring the foundation to its original alignment. This can lead to the closure of foundation cracks and the resolution of issues related to windows and doors.

The Operation of Push Piers

Push piers, similar to helical piers, have brackets positioned just below the footings. Hydraulic systems drive the steel piers through the brackets until they reach a stable soil layer. At this point, the piers bear the weight of the structure, and then transmit it to the stable soil below. In some situations, push piers are used to elevate a foundation back to its original position. If a structure has shifted due to foundation problems, push piers can be particularly effective.

When to Choose Push Piers vs Helical Piers

The decision between push piers and helical piers hinges on the severity of the foundation damage. Push piers are the preferred choice when the objective is to raise a home back to its original position due to structural shifting caused by settlement issues. Both helical piers and push piers excel in scenarios involving significant excavation efforts, offering efficient and rapid solutions for foundation damage. Helical piers tend to be more effective when dealing with lighter structures. If a structure lacks the necessary weight to drive push piers to the required depths, opting for helical piers is the more appropriate choice.

The choice between helical piers and push piers is a critical decision when addressing foundation issues. Each option comes with its own unique advantages, and the suitability of one over the other depends on the specific circumstances and the extent of the damage. Helical piers, with their threaded design and impressive load-bearing capacity, are ideal for situations where soil conditions are challenging. Push piers, on the other hand, excel in scenarios involving settlement-related damage, offering an effective means of restoring the foundation to its original position.

Choose the Right Solution Today!

If you suspect foundation problems in your home, it is advisable to consult with our foundation repair experts at S&S Waterproofing and Foundation Repair who can assess the situation and recommend the most appropriate solution. Foundation issues should never be ignored, as they can lead to more significant and costly problems down the line.

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