Push Piers are manufactured and are pushed deep into the soil underneath a foundation to solve settlement issues.
Push piers can be installed inside or outside your foundation walls and, therefore, not noticeable once the foundation repair is complete.
Push piers do not just stop settlement but also raise the foundation back to its original state, closing cracks and enhancing window and door procedures in many cases.
How do Push Piers Prevent Foundation Settlement?
Push piers are the most effective way to fix foundation. Unlike other repair processes, they stabilize the foundation and ensure that it never has to rely on the soil again. Other repair methods, such as concrete pillars, rely on the softer soils in the upper layers of the earth to sustain the foundation. These more temperate soils can be relocated just as quickly as the initial top layer that exacerbated the settling. This means that the pillars will settle over time, and you will be back at square one.
Push piers are pushed into the ground until they reach load-bearing soil. Load-bearing soil is tightly packed, stable, least likely to erode, and capable of bearing significant amounts of weight without dislocation. The earth has multiple layers of soil, each with its own set of characteristics. Because they comprise the most organic compounds, the layers in the topsoil are usually the softest.
The soil becomes denser as you descend. By shifting the weight of the house to these more capable, deeper layers, you can ensure that the house will be supported by stable soil. Each pier transmits the load of the house to the competent soils below, making it the best foundation settling solution.
Push Pier Installation Process
Our foundation stabilization specialists will assess the foundation before installing the piers to evaluate where each push pier will be inserted. It is essential to comprehend how many piers to use and where each pier should be placed. Extra piers are a waste of money and resources, while too few piers will not support the foundation.
If the piers are fitted outside, the soil around your foundation is unearthed until the footing is visible. For indoor installations, holes in the foundation floor are drilled until the soil has been exposed.
Brackets are sealed beneath the foundation before installing the foundation push pier itself. A hydraulic ram pushes the piers through the shelves and into the soil when the frame is in place. The rods are made in sections, one by one, until the piers encounter resistance or hit bedrock. The depth to which they must go is determined by the soil and terrain on which the house was built. Push piers are typically installed between 10 and 25 feet underground but can be fitted even deeper if necessary.
There may be a void beneath your home after the foundation is lifted. A mixture of water, sand, and cement is pumped beneath the foundation to fill the voids. The excavated soil will be refilled outside, and any holes drilled will be covered up.
At HydroHelp911, we don’t just finish the foundation repair and call it a day, we control the cleanup with the same care we repair. We make sure that your yard and foundation look utterly untouched by the end of the project.
When Should You Have Foundation Push Piers Installed?
Push piers are usually the least risky solution when local soil conditions are unknown because they are pushed to bedrock or a stable soil layer. Push piers are a good option if your goals are as follows:
- The best opportunity to return your home to its original position.
- You want as little interruption as possible during installation.
- You want a quick and efficient installation.
- It is essential to restore the value of your property.
If you’re installing foundation piers on lighter structures like stoops or decks, a helical pier may be more productive than a push pier.
This is because the structure may be too light to drive the push piers deep enough to support your foundation structure.
Common Signs of Foundation Settlement
Advanced settling induces structural issues throughout the home, not only in the foundation. If the settling becomes severe, you will need to pay for more than just foundation repairs. Reacquaint yourself with the problem signs to avoid damage and additional repair costs. Contact local foundation repair experts to stop the settling as soon as you notice the settling.
INTERIOR SIGNS OF FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
It would help if you began in your basement because the symptoms will be most severe closest to the foundation. Study the walls and floors for cracks and any areas with prevalent leakages. Measure the evenness of the space with a level ruler, and if there is any irregular area despite the smooth surface, there is probably some settling.
Search for cracks along with the ceiling and walls in the upper levels of your home. If your doors or windows are jammed, this is yet another clear indication of settling because the tilting house distorts the frame. Walk around the house, feeling for areas where the floor is uneven.
EXTERIOR SIGNS OF FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
Outside, you can start searching for evidence from top to bottom. Look for cracks along the foundation of the house. After a few years, all concrete develops hairline cracks, but there is a problem if the cracks are numerous and comprehensive. Stair-step cracking along the mortar is one of the most apparent signs of settling. The settling is advanced if the crack is broader at the top than it does at the bottom.
Check to see if your chimney is tilting. The advantage of vents is that uneven distribution is easily visible due to their height. Examine the chimney from various angles and look for cracks. If you have handrails on your front porch, unevenness also implies settling. If you’re unsure about the signs you’re seeing, contact a foundation expert at HydroHelp911 for a professional evaluation.
See This Why Gutters Are Important To Your Foundation!
WHAT EXACTLY ARE PUSH PIERS?
Steel piers are hydraulically “pushed” into the soil via heavy-duty brackets in the push pier system. Once the soil around a house has been removed, this system can be installed. This will expose the foundation and provide the necessary vantage point for establishing the push piers.
Our piers are corrosion-resistant. Each pier also includes a patent-pending external sleeve that prevents the pier from kinking, buckling, or rotating out of place. The sleeve also reinforces the push pier system.
WHEN SHOULD YOU NOT USE PUSH PIERS?
Push piers cannot be used in every circumstance. Helical piers are the best option if your house is small and not heavy enough to support push piers. Helical piers work well in softer soils so that homeowners would benefit from this type of pier system.
Helical piers are preferred over push piers in basements with bowing walls. Helical piers can be fitted at an angle to straighten out bowing walls if necessary. Push piers can only be installed vertically, so they can only lift horizontal surfaces, such as your foundation’s floor, but not vertical walls.
ARE PUSH PIERS A GOOD FIT FOR MY HOUSE?
Helical piers, similar to push piers, are another type of pier. They are solid steel shafts with helix blades welded to one of the sides rather than hollow rods.
The contractor performing the repair will determine which pier system is best for your home, but understanding the differences is important because the system chosen will reveal a lot about your home.
Your property plans must also be considered when deciding between helical and push piers.
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE PUSH PIERS?
Push piers are more than just pillars that bear the weight of your house. To function, they depend on the importance of their place. When the piers are connected to the bracket, the house should act as a counterweight, preserving the piers at load-bearing depth. This means the home must be heavy enough to push against the piers’ pressure. If the house is too light, the piers will not remain at load-bearing depths.
Once installed, push piers cannot be removed. Push piers are ideal if you do not intend to extend your home or make any renovations that will affect the foundation.
Push piers can also push through more difficult soils and rocks.
DO PUSH PIERS HELP IN INCREASING A HOME'S VALUE?
Push piers have no impact on curb appeal and can increase home value.
Though there will be some yard and landscaping disruptions during the installation process, once our contractors are finished, you will be able to return your yard to its original state.
The only difference in your home will be a secure, level foundation and the knowledge that it is no longer sinking.
Push piers can help increase the resale value of your home. Buyers today want homes that are ready to move into. They are avoiding properties that require work.
