Push Piers & Foundation Settlement Repair in Greater Richmond
Why Choose Push Piers For Foundation Repair?
A push pier is a foundation pier driven deep into the ground using hydraulics. While the pier is being driven, the pressure is monitored to determine how much load each pier can hold. Each pier is load-tested during installation by placing pressure directly on the top of the pier. When the pier placement is complete, the load is transferred directly down the shaft to the base of the pier, creating an 'end-bearing' pier.
The Drying Company utilizes Magnum Piering Push Piers. Unlike other manufacturers in the market, the materials used to manufacture Magnum's push piers are 100% NEW US ASTM A513 steel, designed specifically for the construction industry and backed by a thirty (30) year warranty. This gives the steel greater strength. They are manufactured with higher tolerances than ordinary pipe to provide a tighter fit.
Get a free foundation settlement repair estimate to learn more. We serve Henrico, Williamsburg, Richmond, Newport News, and nearby areas throughout Virginia.
The footer is faced evenly with the load bearing wall.
A bracket is fastened to the footer using wedge anchors. A ram and safety bolt are set in place on the bracket.
Hydraulic hoses are attached, and survey marks are placed to track wall movement.
The first pier is placed, and a friction lead is attached. Piers are driven while pressure is monitored
Rams are connected for simultaneous lift. Once pressure is achieved, lock off bolts are drilled.
Watch How Push Piers Stabilize a Failing Foundation
This video shows how push piers restore stability to settling foundations, driving steel piers into load-bearing soil to provide lasting support for Virginia homes!
Push Piers: A Powerful Solution for Settling Foundations
Below are images showing how push piers provide lasting support by reaching deeper, stable soil layers beneath your home. *Click to enlarge
Cracks in walls or a home's foundation — especially large gaps that are expanding or extending over time — along with misaligned doors and windows, sloping floors, and gaps between floors/ceilings and walls, are all signs that a structure may be suffering from uneven foundation settlement.
A lack of soil stability or excessive erosion may necessitate foundation stabilization intervention. Whether helical piles or push piers are the ideal method depends on a number of factors, such as the weight of the structure, the depth of stable strata or bedrock, and the space available for installation and stabilization.
If you've noticed symptoms in your building or home that you believe are attributable to uneven foundation subsidence, it's in your best interest to call the foundation repair specialists at The Drying Company as soon as possible. Our experts will assess the warning signs and your foundation before analyzing the soil and recommending solutions. They can explain the differences between push piers and helical piles, and which would be best for your home.
Push piers should ideally provide a long-term foundation repair solution that does not require frequent adjustments or the addition of new piers. Load testing during the installation process allows foundation repair specialists to verify that the push piers will provide a permanent stabilization solution.
During load testing, your foundation repair contractors will apply pressure to each pier and monitor how it responds, confirming the pier has reached a soil layer or bedrock capable of supporting the structure's weight moving forward. It also allows them to ensure every pier is appropriately positioned to carry the full structural load, reducing the likelihood of future settlement.
Unlike some other construction projects, push pier installation isn't typically hindered by rain, snow, or freezing temperatures. The ability to install push piers at any time of year, even when weather conditions may not be ideal, can make them a useful tool for foundation repair projects that need to be completed as soon as possible.
Push piers usually don't require ongoing maintenance and are intended to be a set-it-and-forget-it solution for foundation stabilization. One of the reasons we utilize 100% NEW US ASTM A513 steel push piers is their extraordinary longevity. When properly installed and positioned, our push piers should require no revision or maintenance for decades.
Push piers are competitively priced compared to other foundation repair methods and have the added benefit of not requiring significant excavation or causing extensive damage to your lawn and landscaping. While any foundation repair project may cause some disturbance to your property, the installation of push piers doesn't require large sections of your lawn or house to be torn up.
Moreover, it's important to consider a foundation repair investment not only in the context of home value but also in the cost of repairs that would be necessary to fix damage caused by uneven foundation settlement. It's always more affordable to address the problem promptly rather than letting damage to walls, floors, windows, and doors worsen.
If there is a suitable, deep, stable soil layer or bedrock present beneath the weaker surface soil on which your foundation rests, push piers may be the ideal solution. The push piers are attached to the foundation footer using brackets before they are hydraulically driven into the earth to reach the appropriate stable layers.
The structure's weight is transferred from the unstable soil layers on which the foundation rests to sturdier, more stable strata of soil or bedrock. The weight of the structure does most of the stabilization work, which is why push piers are particularly popular for stabilizing heavier structures.
The presence of a firm, cohesive soil layer or bedrock at greater depths is typically ideal for push piers. Homes or structures on soft, loose soil, such as those with high sand or organic content, may not offer the necessary resistance for push piers. In those cases, your foundation repair specialists may recommend helical piles.
Schedule a free estimate with The Drying Company to determine which foundation repair solution is best for your structure. During an inspection, an expert can ascertain soil consistency, as well as bedrock or water table depths, to provide a reliable, long-term foundation stabilization action plan.
