Helical piers were first used to on lighthouse foundations. Helical piers have been around for almost as long as push piers. In fact, these piers

were used in the mid 1800s on lighthouses. The screw-like design was ideal for installing in sandy soil conditions. Helical piers have since become

a mainstay for foundations, roads, rail lines, and more.

Function of Helical Piers

Helical piers are steel pipes fitted with helices, or screw-like plates at the end. The helices pull the pier into place instead of pushing it into place.

It is not reliant on a heavy structure to reach capacity. Instead, they are installed with a handheld hydraulic motor to turn the pier into high density

stratum. Next, steel brackets are fitted and the weight of your home is transferred to the pier. Helical piers hold your home in place just like screws

hold a shelf up.

Installing helical piers is a faster, more efficient process than push piers. There will be minimal excavation, noise pollution, and can be installed

inside or outside the home.

Limitations of Helical Piers

There are some limitations to using this piering system. The main disadvantage is the system's dependency on existing soil. Imagine hanging a

shelf on your wall. The first step is finding a stud to drill into so the shelf is properly supported. Otherwise, you use anchors to support the screws.  

Dense soil is similar to the stud or anchor. Helical piers use the soil to pull and place the pier. Foundation experts can keep adding shafts to the

pier until proper depth is accomplished. Bedrock is not essential, but reaching a stable, high density stratum is. The added shafts can add to the

overall cost of repair.

Another limitation is space. Helical piers have traditionally needed more work space to install than push piers. This requirement gap is closing,

but there's still a difference.   Some homes may need push piers because the work space is too small or low for helicals to be properly installed.  

We need foundation experts to assess the soil, work space and height, and repair needs before determining which pier is best for the job.

So why would foundation experts opt to use helicals over push piers?

Versatility is the main reason experts prefer helical piers. Helicals can be used for light loads, heavy loads, and repairs that require angled piering

(also known as a tieback). If your garage is sinking, these piers can lift and secure just that section of a home without relying on its resistance mass.

Helicals can also be installed at an angle to straighten and reinforce a wall that's starting to bow. Overall, there are not many residential repairs

that this system cannot tackle.

Another advantage of helical piers is mobility. These piers can be removed at any time, or be taken out and moved to a new location. For example,

let's say you decide to add a sunroom to your home. But helical piers are already installed at an angle to support your basement. Foundation

experts could relocate the existing piers to support both your basement and new sunroom! This mobility makes helicals a cost effective choice.

Foundation experts prefer helicals for other reasons too, including:

Flexibility. The number of helices can vary based on the job. Added helices strengthen the pier and allow it to break through cumbersome soil

composition. Broken footings are okay. Helical piers can still use cracked or broken foundation footings unlike their push pier counterparts.

This system is faster and easier to install, thus reducing the cost of installation.