Steel Piers for Foundation Repair

There are two types of steel piers in common usage for foundation repair:

• Straight Steel Piers
• Helical Steel Piers

Why are Steel Piers the Best Foundation Repair Method?

Straight steel and helical steel piers are consistently installed deeper than concrete piers and provide excellent long-term stability.

Straight Steel Piers are driven to an average depth of 22 feet and may extend to a depth of 70 feet, providing exceptional support on a rigid base. In the sketch on the right, steel piers are driven until they rest upon weathered shale or bedrock. Contrast this with pressed concrete, driven to an average depth of 10 feet and seldom extending to either weathered shale or bedrock.

Steel piers are made of high carbon tubular steel. The same steel driven to depths of 5000 - 10000 feet in oil fields. Granite steel is installed in five-foot lengths, connected by a 12 inch inserts. A small 12 x 18 inch hole is required, as contrasted with concrete pilings or poured concrete piers, requiring a 24 x 24 inch hole.

After a steel pier drive is completed, the foundation is leveled and supported with a steel bracket. Installation time and landscape disruption is minimal.

Helical Steel Piers

Helical Steel Piers are augered into the ground to weathered shale, bedrock, or a depth greater than 15 feet. The pier consists of one or more helical (spiral) plates welded to the end of straight steel. Pressure to the foundation is only applied when the foundation is leveled and supported with a steel bracket. Landscape disruption is minimal.

Helical steel piers are ideal for providing lift in concrete foundations that have inadequate beams. Additionally, helical piers are excellent for foundation repair of lightweight foundations including additions and pier and beam foundations.

Why don't more companies offer straight steel and helical steel piers as a foundation repair option?

• Significantly higher cost for equipment to install steel piers over pressed concrete or poured concrete, unless the steel piers are installed in one-foot long interlocking sections. We prefer five-foot sections for stability.
• Material cost is higher for steel piers than pressed concrete or poured concrete foundation repair systems.

Straight steel piers provide excellent foundation support as they are driven to bedrock or weathered shale. Drawing by Granite Foundation Repair.

Helical steel piers are typically driven to a depth of 15 feet or more to provide good foundation support. Sketch by Granite Foundation Repair.

Repair Methods

• Steel piers
• Helical piers
• Concrete piers
• Soil injection
• Mudjacking
• Drainage
• Tunneling
• Root barrier

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Foundation Problem Signs

• Brick cracks
• Sloping floor
• Sticking window
• Cracks in walls
• Cracks in floor
• Cracks in tile
• Sunken floor
• Bouncy floor (Pier & Beam)

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Granite's Lifetime Warranty

All of Granite's foundation repairs are guaranteed by a fully transferable warranty. Our goal is to fix it right the first time and we stand behind our work. Learn more about our lifetime transferable warranty...

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