Common foundation repair methods vary depending upon what type of foundation you have. HD Foundations repairs structures using two different types of foundation piers. Both of them are highly effective.
Common Foundation Repair Methods Include:
Pressed concrete piers (or pilings) and steel piers. Both are frequently used in DFW, TX.
Steel Piers:
These supports are commonly utilized for fixing foundations because they’re durable and long lasting. They’re sturdy. They can be installed very deep in the soil when making repairs, too. That’s important when dealing with foundation repair problems. Steel piers are made of just that: steel. These piers and very sturdy and are generally installed to a depth of approximately 22’-23’. That’s why they’re frequently used in the Dallas, Fort Worth area. Unlike pressed concrete pilings used under slabs, which are driven approximately 8-10’ into the ground, steel piers are foundation repair methods that must be driven very far into the soil. While there is much discussion regarding the most common methods of foundation repair, steel piers are frequently installed under foundations, as are steel shims. It is imperative that they be installed all the way down to the point of bedrock. If they are not, they will shift.
What are the advantages of steel piers? The primary benefits of installing these piers is that steel piers can be pushed deeper into the ground than concrete piers are frequently used for foundation repair on houses with slab foundations, and they’re very stable. The two primary disadvantages of steel piers are (1) steel can rust and (2) cost. Because steel is expensive, these piers are very costly to install and the majority customers have their property fixed using concrete piers. It’s important to note that steel piers are commonly considered to be a superior method of foundation repair.
Concrete Piers
These pilings are frequently used for fixing foundations because they’re solid slab supports for foundations. Concrete piers and steel supports are the methods commonly used for foundation repair in Texas cities such as Dallas and Fort Worth (DFW) because they’re reliable. HD Foundations installs them all the time. They are basically, pre-cast concrete forms that are about 6” in diameter and 8-10” long and placed under foundations when repairing them. That’s exactly why companies use them. Concrete piers are hydraulically drilled into the soil and installed beneath foundations. Contractors push these concrete structures as as they can to their maximum load bearing weight, which is commonly called “the point of refusal.” This allows for maximum slab support. You may want to study information about concrete pier foundation repair. Contractors commonly use both types of piers when repairing foundations because they stabilize foundations and stop issues. Steel shims are needed for repairs, too. Because foundation piers support the weight of a house, this impacts how deeply they must be installed into the ground. In North Texas, concrete piers are frequently used and drilled approximately 9’ into the ground, plus or minus a foot. Using this method of foundation repair, concrete piers are “shimmed”, meaning thin steel shims are inserted to make a property as level as possible.
Like steel piers, pressed piers can be installed under foundations relatively quickly, and sometimes in as little as 1-2 days, depending upon the number of piers and amount of repair work the foundation requires. If needed, shimming can be done in one day. It’s also important to note that concrete piers must be installed correctly in order to ensure that they don’t easily shift under the weight of the house and harm the foundation.
The best reason to utilize concrete piers is that these foundation supports are great for foundation repair, and an excellent means of keeping foundations from sinking, settling and repairs. Concrete piers are strong and inexpensive, and last for a very long time. In fact, concrete piers are very popular. One of the many reasons they’re so common and frequently used is that they stabilize slabs and other structures, require few repairs, stop foundation damage and don’t cost a lot to use. That is a very important distinction from steel piers and a major factor in deciding which piers your contractor should use under slab foundations. Perhaps the biggest advantage foundation contractors find for using concrete piers when they’re performing foundation repair work is cost. Because concrete piers cost very little to manufacture, many foundation repair companies commonly use them.
For more information, contact HD Foundations for a free foundation repair estimate.
Updated 3/6/2023