HydroHelp911 is a leading company in the underpinning of current foundation systems in the USA. Underpinning, also known as piering, is a foundation stabilization process in which loads are transferred from a structure to a deep foundation component bearing in more suitable ground conditions.
Our structural contractors at HydroHelp911 rely on quality underpinning solutions in the USA when foundations fail. Underpinning allows us to accomplish complicated foundation issues without interrupting the work area. The goal of commercial underpinning is straightforward: to solidify, elevate, and endorse settling foundations. Here are a few reasons why your structure might require underpinning:
- Because of settlement, the existing foundation is weak or unstable.
- Because of floods or droughts, the design of the building has shifted or moved.
- Changes in the soil beneath the foundation.
- Cost-effective alternative to new construction.
- Excavation near new construction.
Advantages of Underpinning by HydroHelp911
Structures are more accessible for inspection, refurbishments, and improvements with underpinning. It also contributes to energy savings, lowers heating and cooling costs, and maintains the soil beneath the foundation. Underpinning anchors by HydroHelp911 like steel push piers, which are used to stabilize and lift foundations back to their normal state, are among our underpinning piers.
Our foundation piering hydraulic equipment is both quiet and vibration-free. All installation equipment is compact and can be manually transferred to and from the job site. Once all piers have been installed and load-tested, the structure can be regained instantaneously by transferring the load to the HydroHelp911 piers or underpinning anchors. There is no waiting duration for the concrete to heal, and there is no soil to eliminate from the site.
The following are the advantages of using a piering system:
- It can be installed externally or from the inside of an existing structure.
- Portable hydraulic equipment is used for installation.
- Installation can be done in difficult to reach areas.
- There was only a minor amount of spoil removal.
- During load transfer, piers are load-tested.
- It is possible to load it immediately after installation.
- Using a bracket system, it attaches to existing foundations.
What are the different types of products suitable for underpinning?
Water or poorly compact soil can cause pressure around the crawlspace, foundation, or retaining structures. This is where a wall anchor comes in. These are explicitly designed to support and pull leaning and bowing walls back into alignment. They are composed of an inside wall plate, external anchor, and a high potency rod that helps connect them all. They are cost-effective while still offering the lateral force required to pull that wall back to its initial form as well as provide support for decades to come.
Steel Push Piers
Steel push piers are among the most commonly used underpinning products today, with numerous applications. You may also encounter them as micro piles, push piers, or resistance piers. Depending on the type, they can be installed below or on the side of the load that requires lifting and support. Every pier is installed, and load tested individually, resulting in a reliable and safe product. Steel push piers and other underpinning anchor products from HydroHelp911 are considered the best in the industry for underpinning processes. So, you can rely on HydroHelp911 Foundation Repair to provide you with the best product and installation available in the United States.
Helical Piers
Helical piers are underpinning anchors by HydroHelp911 are an underpinning tool that can be used to resist a tension or compressive force. Assume you have a chimney that is tilting due to foundation settlement. We can use one or two helical piers to elevate your chimney back into place and provide long-term support! These are commonly used in industry and dependable tools for additional support.
Check this video on Helical Pier Installation.
Wall Tiebacks
The soil around your home or structure constantly changes, causing your foundation to shift. Sometimes your foundation structure needs those extra supports or an anchoring system to prevent this from happening, so you aren’t relying solely on the soil around your home to support your foundation. That is precisely what wall tiebacks or anchors can do.
They are pushed into the stable grounds surrounding your home to ensure that you have extra support. These are a cost-effective and secure choice for your home’s foundation, and they are widely used in the industry today. They are easy to install and will cause little disruption to your landscaping. Because they are relatively simple to install, labor time is reduced, thus reducing costs. One of the commonly used underpinning products by HydroHelp911 is wall tiebacks.
When Does your Structure Require Underpinning?
If your home’s foundation is settling, it may require underpinning. The following are some of the common indications of foundation problems:
- Windows and doors that do not properly open and close.
- Uneven floors.
- Cracks in the wall (with or without bowing).
- Cracks in the floor.
- Damages in a stairwell’s brick or masonry.
- Moldings that are coming away from the wall or ceiling.
- Ripped wallpaper (It might be hiding a wall crack).
- Floors or roofs that have separated from the wall.
- Separating chimneys or porches from the house.
HydroHelp911 underpinning products are widely used for foundation repairs in the United States. The process of strengthening and supporting a sagging foundation is known as underpinning. Whenever a foundation is adequately underpinned, the structure is raised to an appropriate elevation and provides support to prevent further settling.
Foundation settlement can be caused by changes in the moisture content of the soil beneath the foundation. When soil becomes swamped with moisture, it expands, and when it becomes too dry, it contracts. Because the soil is constantly shifting, the foundation sits on top. When foundations settle, it can cause structural damage throughout the building.
If you come across any of the signs of foundation settlement mentioned above, you must immediately contact the foundation repair and stabilization repair company, HydroHelp911. HydroHelp911 provides the best underpinning anchor products for your foundation stabilization in the USA; we also have a team of foundation repair experts who will help you install these piers and anchors.
FAQs
What are a few of the benefits of using piers over other types of foundations?
Piers outperform other methods in many ways. Hand-dug and machined concrete piers can suffice. They are, however, extremely time-consuming, messy, costly, and labor-intensive. Driven piles can be effective, but their use is complex for an installer due to limited access and the sensitivity of existing buildings. Helical piering is comparatively low-cost, requires very little concrete, can indeed be done in tight spaces, and is nearly vibration-free.
What exactly is a pier, and how does it differ from piles?
Both terms are considered to be synonymous. A pier is a deep foundation system used to support a structure. The structure’s weight is passed to a stable soil mass or bedrock via the pier. A pile is a deep foundation system made of relatively long, slender column elements driven into the ground, which may wrap up with a pile cap on top. Piers are commonly known as single support structures, whereas piles are frequently a combo of piers that result in a widespread “cap” to provide collective support.
How deep do the helical piers need to be driven for installation?
Helical piers require at least 5 feet of soil above the top helix and must be more profound than the soil’s active zone, which is the zone of seasonal wetting and drying. Furthermore, the Helical Pier must achieve the torque (turning or twisting force) specified on the repair plan. The torque will vary depending on the depth and density of the soil.
All piering applications must take the following factors into account:
- The structure’s weight.
- The foundation footing and wall’s structural integrity.
- The soil’s tensile strength.
- A precautionary measure.
- Piers must be spaced 5 to 8 feet apart for most typical residential homes.
When do I need to consider doing the underpinning process?
Observations can be used to decide the underpinning requirement. When an existing structure begins to exhibit specific changes due to settlement or any other type of defects, it is crucial to set vertical level readings and offset level readings regularly. The severity of the payment determines the time frame. Before excavating for a new project, professionals must carefully examine and determine the soil’s ability to withstand the structure built on top of it. The need for underpinning is determined based on that report. Such tests may be used to prevent the need for underpinning after the entire structure has been built.
What kinds of problems can foundation underpinning solve?
Underpinning can help a foundation repair contractor solve the following issues:
- Settlement on a difference. A variety of factors can cause this.
- Soil creep has caused foundations to shift laterally and settle. This is common in homes built on hillsides.
- Soil erosion has caused foundations to become unstable.
- Foundations that are heaving or subsiding.
- Underpinning a foundation can also reinforce foundations that will carry a heavier load. For instance, when adding a story to a building.
