Foundation Settlement Solutions
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Restore Stability with Helical Piers & Push Piers
A Permanent Solution for a Common Problem
So, you’ve recognized the warning signs of foundation settlement, inside your home — cracks in the walls, uneven floors, doors and windows sticking or not shutting properly… How do you remedy what is, unfortunately, a common problem for many homes? Over time, the soil around your home can lose its consistency and strength, be it a result of poor compaction during construction, erosion, expansive clay, or drought. Thankfully, helical piers and push piers can provide a permanent foundation repair solution ensuring the foundation of your home will never settle again.
Helical Piers vs. Push Piers
Designed to look like a screw, helical piers are twisted into the ground with the assistance of hydraulic machinery, cutting through the unstable soil under your foundation and into the bedrock or stable, load-bearing soil underneath. Afterward, we attach the piers onto the foundation’s footing with high-strength concrete anchors, effectively transferring the weight of the structure to the load-bearing strata underneath the unstable soil. Requiring only small machinery with little excavation, helical piers are ideal for both new construction and repair projects. Helical piers may be used to support lightweight structures like decks and porches — though they can also support heavy commercial columns and wall loads — and are an ideal solution if multiple layers of soil must be penetrated to reach the load-bearing strata. Force Basements uses SafeBase™ Helical Piers.
Push piers are hydraulically pressed into the ground to reach stable, load-bearing strata beneath the unstable soil around your foundation. While helical piers screw themselves into the ground, push piers are installed vertically through a bracket — which is attached to the foundation footing — and transfer the weight of the structure to stable soil as determined by load testing every pier as it’s installed. Push piers are driven into the ground until they reach the desired resistance and are anchored into the ground by the weight of the structure supported. Generally, push piers are recommended for homes in which the load-bearing strata is relatively close to the topsoil. Force Basements uses the SafeBase™ Push Pier system from Safe Basements™, which is load tested prior to installation and designed for a safety factor two to three times stronger than needed to support your home.
Does Your Home Need Piers?
If you’re unsure whether your home’s foundation needs push piers or helical piers, a professional inspection can provide some valuable insight. During an inspection, the Force Basements team will assess the severity of damage and look for various signs of foundation settlement, which could include the following:
- Cracks in walls, especially near windows and doors
- Sloping or uneven floors
- Doors or windows sticking or not closing properly
- Cracks or separation appearing in exterior brickwork
- Home looks crooked when looking at it from a distance
If our advisor discovers signs of a failing foundation during the inspection, they will then determine the best pier system for your home based on the soil conditions, foundation type, and severity of damage.
Trust the Professionals
Not just anyone can install a pier system — doing so requires specialized tools, equipment, and skills. Without them, attempting an installation can lead to further complications. Hiring an amateur contractor or attempting this type of repair as a DIY project can result in disastrous consequences, including:
- Incomplete or improper repairs — Without the technical knowledge to address foundation settlement issues, quick fixes may be applied that don’t address the root problem. This, in turn, can lead to the foundation settling even more, sending repair costs even higher.
- Structural instability — If a pier system isn’t installed correctly, it can compromise the integrity of your foundation and lead to a complete failure, putting your family and property at risk.
- Hidden costs — While lower costs may be quoted up front, the lack of expertise needed to install a pier system may result in clumsy mistakes that need to be corrected, driving costs up even higher.
Don’t settle for less — boasting years of experience in foundation repair solutions, the professional team at Force Basements offers peace of mind from the beginning of the project to the end with detailed inspections that evaluate all factors, clear and easy-to-understand proposals, a great reputation based on numerous customer reviews, and solutions that
deliver long-term results.
See What Our Customers Are Saying!
Excellent company and willing to help. Very knowledgeable on how to help others.
David N.Crawl Space Repair in Allentown, IL
Service Area
Force Basements proudly provides foundation repair, basement waterproofing, bowed wall repair, and crawl space repair services to homes and businesses in Bloomington, Peoria, the Quad Cities, and surrounding communities.