By linking footings and walls to solid, load-bearing soils, helical piers can help to stabilize settling foundations. During the helical pier installation process the helical plates welded to the shaft are designed to haul the pier into the soil.
The helical pier installation contractor can evaluate when a pier has reached qualified load-bearing soil by measuring turning resistance as it is driven. Strong steel brackets link the piers to the foundation and provide additional support to foundation walls. Helical piers effectively prevent further foundation settlement which is caused by expansive soil. They have become the industry standard for quality foundation repair.
Helical piers are distinguished from push piers and other steel systems by the presence of helices, the circular section resembling a corkscrew, welded to the base.
Learn more about What is a Helical Pier?
Helical Pier Installation Process
The Inspection and Evaluation of the Site:
An inspection is the first step in any foundation repair process by HydroHelp911. A qualified helical pier installation professional locates and diagnoses foundation failure signs and symptoms.
- Leaning chimneys
- Slanted floors
- Cracks in the drywall
- Sticky windows and doors
A proper check examines the interior and exterior of the home and the foundation itself – whether it is a slab on grade, post-tensioned, or raised.
The helical pier installation expert will hand over a foundation elevation measurement sheet which includes information indicating whether or not there is any slope or variation in elevation within the home’s structure (a clear, indicative sign of foundation failure). Foundation settlement is not always a consistent, all-encompassing process. Sometimes, only a specific section of the structure will need to be repaired.
NECESSARY PREP WORK FOR HELICAL PIERS
The Helical Pier locations must be excavated regardless of the type of foundation.Helical piers are used every 6 feet, and their positions are marked with painter’s tape to avoid permanently damaging the home’s plaster walls. Holes 3ft x 3ft are dug to access the foundation’s footing. In some cases, concrete removal and replacement are required to gain access.
After excavating the holes beneath the footing, the crew uses a demo hammer to level it, preparing it for the vital bracket, which will fit in an L shape to the footing. The restorative bracket is then fastened to the footing in one of two ways:
- Wedge Anchor / Strong Bolt – The corrective brackets can be fastened in place using “redheads” (bolts with expanding edges that lock into place after installation) that are hammered in and then sealed with a washer and bolt.
- Tighten Screws – Tighten screws driven into the footer can be used to secure the remedial bracket. It’s 4 to 5 inches deep, thanks to wedge anchors and Tightened screws.
INSTALLATION OF HELICAL PIERS
As opposed to Push Piers, Helical Piers are screwed into the ground. The simplest way to identify the differences is to think of push piers as nails and helical piers as screws.
The Helical Piers are screwed into durable, load-bearing soil by the foundation repair experts.
Once the house load has been calculated and we know how much helical material will be used, we can determine the torque required to achieve the desired loading value. Torque is defined as the force required to rotate the helical piers into the ground. Denser soils inherently require more torque than less dense soils. The helical piers are pushed into the earth and connected via extensions until they reach load-bearing soil.
STABILIZATION AND LIFT
The lifting process can begin once all of the helical piers have been safely installed at each location. The quantity of lift that can be safely achieved without jeopardizing the home’s structural integrity is known as Maximum Practical Recovery. Lifting a house can take up to two hours.
Not all homes are lifted because of structural and cosmetic concerns; however, equipped with helical piers are considered stabilized because they will not sink any further.
FINAL INSPECTION
The foundation repair professionals perform a final inspection after the structure has been lifted or stabilized. This inspection includes a brief visual of the earlier affected areas, with particular emphasis on:
- Previously cracked drywall.
- Previously existing drywall cracks.
- Floors that were once slanted.
- The Chimneys (chimneys often have their mini foundation).
Along with visual cues, floor elevation measurements are retaken to evaluate with the initial foundation inspection floor elevations.
Watch this video to learn more!
Advantages of Helical Piers
- Year-Round installation is one of the benefits of our helical pier system.
- Installation is done from the inside as well as from the outside.
- Both light and heavy structures are stabilized.
- The round shaft has a high bending resistance.
- Lifting the foundation to stabilize it permanently.
- After installation is complete, the below-grade solution is not visible.
- Guaranteed resolution to settlement Issues
Why Choose HydroHelp911?
We are proud to provide the best foundation repair solutions available. Our expert foundation repair contractors have repaired settling foundations all over Huntersville, NC, and we’re ready to assist you.
Call us today at 704-741-9737 for a free foundation helical pier installation quote in Huntersville, NC! Each evaluation is free of charge and includes an on-site inspection and consultation.
WHEN IS A HELICAL PIER INSTALLED?
Foundations that are cracking or shifting may require additional support from a helical pier system installed beneath the footing. These systems provide lasting stability for regions changing due to expansive soils or poor artistry during the original foundation’s construction. These installations are warrantied for the structure’s life and are an extremely cost-effective solution to specific problems.
HOW DO HELICAL PIERS FUNCTION?
Drilling deep into the earth is used to install helical piles. As the shaft of each pile is drilled deep beneath the surface, additional extension segments are connected into the bolted couplers and dug into the ground to strengthen the structure’s foundation.
WHICH ARE BETTER: PUSH PIERS OR HELICAL PIERS?
The helical pier is superior to the push pier for the following reasons:
- It makes no noise.
- It is inexpensive.
- It is simple to install.
- It causes no disruption.
WHEN SHOULD HELICAL PIERS BE USED?
In the following scenarios, you would require a helical pier to strengthen your foundation and repair the structure:
- Repairing cracks in the interior plaster walls.
- Repair the slanted floor.
- To repair the enormous gap that has formed between the door and window frames.
- When a hindrance is created while closing and opening the doors.
- To repair basement wall cracks.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HELICAL PIERS?
One significant advantage of using helical piers or piles is mobility during ground freezing and thawing. During the winter, the ground freezes in a climate like ours, which can push up standard foundation supports, resulting in crooked or slanted decks and foundations. The rounded end screws into the soil, forming a solid and flexible base that does not disturb the soil compared to a cement or wood pier.
Helical piers have top of the pier attachments termed new construction brackets that can be customized depending on what you’re using them for and what you’re supporting, such as a frame or deck.
In addition, helical piers can aid in the prevention of uneven settling. Cracked dry walls, drawers that don’t work correctly, and crooked decks or patios are signs of a foundation settling unevenly due to shaky footings.
