Helical Piles & Settling Foundation Repair in Greater Richmond
Why Choose Helical Piles for Foundation Repair?
Helical Piles, also known as Helical Underpinning, are installed at the footer of your home's foundation and used to support the weight of the structure. This is achieved by driving the helical pile into the ground, like a screw, and transferring the load of the structure to the pile. The patented dual cutting edge (or DCE) found only on Magnum Helical Piles cuts through cobble and dense soil, allowing for accurate and quick installation.
The Drying Company utilizes Magnum Piering Helical Piles. Unlike other manufacturers in the market, the materials used to produce Magnum's Helical Piles are 100% NEW US ASTM A513 steel, designed specifically for the construction industry and backed by a twenty-five (25) year warranty. This gives the steel greater strength. They are manufactured with higher tolerances than ordinary pipe to provide a tighter fit.
Learn more about foundation settlement repair using helical piles by scheduling a free estimate. We serve Virginia areas throughout Williamsburg, Richmond, Henrico, Newport News, Midlothian, and nearby.
The weight of the structure being stabilized and the depth of load-bearing strata, as well as the installation space available, are all factors that may play into a foundation repair specialist's recommendation.
Helical piles don't always penetrate to the same depth as push piers. If the bedrock is particularly deep, push piers may be the ideal solution. Push piers are rely on the building's weight for stabilization, meaning relatively small and light structures - like a carport or porch - might benefit from helical piles instead.
Helical piles might be the preferred choice if soil conditions are variable or there are concerns regarding consistent soil stability beneath a structure. Their screw-like design can potentially offer greater stability in softer or looser soils.
Their helices — the screw-like protrusions — create a large bearing surface area that distributes the weight of the structural load over a great volume of soil. Varying torque applied during the helical pile installation process allows foundation repair specialists to precisely gauge the helical pile's load-bearing capacity to ensure it sufficiently handles the structural requirements of the job.
Soil shrinkage, swelling, and erosion that leads to uneven foundation settlement or sinking can potentially be repaired using helical piles. The cause of these problems can vary significantly, but it is often related to the load-bearing potential of the soil beneath your structure. Extreme rainfall events or long-term erosion can potentially lead to the loss of consistent support under your home, leading to foundation instability under part of the structure.
There may also be a construction defect component to uneven settlement, like poorly compacted fill soils being used during home building. Some Richmond homes rest on variable soil conditions, leading to uneven soil erosion or shrinking conditions under only certain parts of your house.
No, not typically. The steel helical piles do not damage the surrounding soil, and the process of installing the helical piles is not overly invasive. Although some excavation and soil displacement may be necessary, the long-term disturbance of the installation site will usually be very minimal. The equipment used to install helical piles, and the installation process can often be completed in a single day (the size of the project, soil conditions, and accessibility may result in longer project timelines). The carbon footprint and length of the job won't be overly disruptive for most households.
Potentially 100 years or more — the 100% NEW US ASTM A513 steel used in the construction of our helical piles makes them extraordinarily strong and resilient, meaning they usually won't require revision or replacement within your lifetime. These professional-grade helical piles come with a 25-year warranty, but they will typically last much longer than that.
Depending on the soil conditions under the rest of your structure and the size and breadth of your foundation repair project, future stabilization to address other parts of the structure may be required, but most homeowners will not need to worry about the longevity of helical piles.
Yes — they are a versatile foundation repair tool that can be used to stabilize a wide variety of foundation types. There may be commercial projects where push piers could be a better solution, but it's highly dependent on the structure itself, soil conditions, rate of erosion, depth of bedrock, and other factors. There are scenarios where parts of a commercial structure may benefit from the placement of helical piles, especially due to the adaptability of the tool and their ability to provide stability in a wide variety of soil types.
Helical piles can often be installed in a single day, especially on residential projects with a modest scope of work. The piles are positioned and appropriately spaced along the foundation footer that is sinking. The piles are driven into the ground to the appropriate depth and with the right amount of torque to stabilize the structure. Brackets are attached to link the helical piles with the structure. The entire process is minimally invasive and usually won't require large-scale excavation.
