How Helical Piers Are Installed

Are cracks appearing in your walls, doors becoming misaligned, or floors showing signs of unevenness?

These signs could indicate a deeper issue like foundation settlement or sinking.

At Thrasher, we specialize in addressing these concerns with advanced foundation helical piers. These piers are engineered to stabilize structures affected by settlement, restoring both your home’s stability and your peace of mind. 

If you're curious about how they work, how they are installed, and their benefits, you're in the right place. We cover all of this and more in this article. Let's get started.

Understanding foundation settlement 

It's inevitable that your home will experience some type of settlement. Your home’s foundation settles or sinks when the soil beneath it is no longer able to support the weight of the structure effectively. This can lead to a host of issues that impact your home’s safety and value: 

1. Structural Damage As your foundation settles unevenly, it can cause cracks to form in the walls, floors, and ceilings. These cracks not only look unsightly but can also compromise the structural integrity of your home over time.
2. Doors and Window issues Sinking foundations can cause doors and windows to become misaligned, making them difficult to open and close properly. This can also lead to gaps that affect energy efficiency and indoor comfort.
3. Decreased property value A compromised foundation can significantly reduce the value of your home and make it more difficult to sell in the future.

What do helical piers do for your home?

Helical pier being installed.

A helical pier is another type of steel pier that can be used to permanently stabilize your home. They're named for their unique design; the first section that is advanced into the ground has one or more helix-shaped blades welded to the shaft, allowing it to be mechanically screwed into the soil. Helical piers can stabilize settling foundations by connecting footings and walls to solid, load-bearing soils. The helical plates welded to the shaft of a helical pier are designed to pull the pier into the soil when the pier is installed.

By measuring turning resistance as a pier is driven into the ground, the contractor can determine when the pier has reached competent load-bearing soil. Piers are connected to the foundation with strong steel brackets. The weight of the home is then transferred through the helical piers onto competent load-bearing soils deep below the surface. Once the soil around the installation area is replaced the entire system is hidden from view. 

How our foundation helical piers are installed

Helical piers supporting a home's foundation.

The Supportworks Helical Pier System permanently stabilizes settling and sinking structures. To install helical piers, our crew takes the following four steps:

1. Prepare the Foundation Footing For an outside installation, the soil around your foundation must be excavated to expose the footing at each pier location. For an inside installation, a section of your slab floor will need to be removed to expose the footing. The slab is restored after the installation. A section of the footing will be cut away so that the steel bracket connected to the pier will support the wall directly. This approach will provide more effective support than lifting the section of the footing that extends beyond the walls.
2. Install Helical Shafts Next, we use steel helical piers that are screwed into the ground until they reach stable soil. If needed, we add more sections to go deeper. These piers are the strongest tools we use for fixing foundation settlement. They shift the weight of your home onto strong, supportive soil. Our helical piers are made of galvanized steel, which resists corrosion, ensuring they last a long time.
3. Install Foundation Brackets Unlike push piers, helical piers are driven fully and completely before their brackets are attached. This is mainly because helical piers don't require the heavy weight of the structure to be driven into the soil. This makes them ideal for lighter structures, such as decks and concrete stairs. Once all helical piers are installed, steel brackets are attached to connect each pier to the footing.
4. Lift the Foundation Once all piers and brackets have been installed, the settlement of your foundation will be permanently halted. At this time, we will determine whether it makes sense to lift your foundation back to its original position. This operation has the potential to close cracks in your foundation and return doors, locks, and windows to their original functionality.

Benefits of our helical pier system

When it comes to choosing a foundation support solution, our helical pier system offers exceptional advantages. Here's a closer look at the key benefits that make our piers the preferred choice for your home:

Helical pier installation

1. Installation: Our helical piers can be installed year-round from inside or outside your building, allowing for flexibility in various weather conditions and site constraints. Additionally, the below-grade installation ensures that the system remains hidden from view after setup, preserving the aesthetic of your property.
2. Strong and Durable: Featuring a round shaft made from galvanized steel, our piers offer high resistance to bending and rust, which contributes to their exceptional longevity and structural integrity. This construction ensures that the piers maintain their performance and strength over time, even under challenging conditions.
3. Effective: Whether stabilizing light buildings or heavy structures, our helical piers are designed to handle diverse load requirements effectively. They can also lift and restore foundations to their original positions, addressing issues caused by settlement and soil movement.
4. Reliable: Our piers are equipped with a patented bracket and external sleeve that strengthen the system directly beneath the bracket, reducing the risk of bending and enhancing overall stability. Additionally, the system comes with a warranty that covers potential settlement issues, providing long-term reliability and peace of mind.

When in doubt, talk to the experts

Hey there, we are the friendly team at Thrasher Foundation Repair, and excited to meet you. With nearly 50 years of experience in foundation repair and basement solutions we've got you covered when it comes to foundations.  

If you happen to live in or around Omaha, Kansas City, Wichita, Denver, Springfield, Grand Island, Sioux City, or Peoria, we're here to help with any basement questions, humidity issues, or hey, even just chatting about life – we’re up for that, too. You can reach out to us by calling us at 1-800-827-0702, filling out this form, or starting a chat in the bottom right-hand corner.