Foundation Repair – Concrete Piers
Concrete Piers
Steel-locked concrete piers are used in most residential, foundation repairs. This consists of digging about 3 feet down and over a few feet in order to get under the edge of the slab and a steel beam is located. The steel-locked concrete piers are then pushed with a hydraulic ram jack to refusal (bedrock). The piers (concrete cylinders) are reinforced with rebar that is cut in approximately 24” sections for extra support. When refusal (bedrock) is reached the steel-locked concrete piers are topped with a concrete cap and double piers are placed on top of the pressed concrete cap.
Steel shims are used to obtain ideal leveling.
Concrete Slab Repair
Homes built on a concrete slab are repaired one of two ways. We use pressed concrete, steel-locked piers or solid steel piers.
If you have any of the following symptoms you may have foundation problems:
- Displaced or cracked moldings
- Separation of doors, windows or garage doors
- Spaces between wall, ceiling or floor
- Walls separating from house
- Wall rotation
- Cracks in exterior or interior brick
- Uneven or sloping floors
- Cracks in sheetrock
- Doors sticking or not opening or closing properly
- Window sticking or not opening or closing properly
- Cabinets separating from ceiling or wall
- Cracks in walls
- Tears or wrinkles in wallpaper
- Garage door not opening or closing properly
- Floors sloping
- Tiles cracked
Steel Piers vs Concrete Piers
It is very confusing when it comes to deciding on steel piers or concrete piers. First, an inspection is needed and as a rule of thumb, if a property is 3 or more stories (usually commercial) steel piers are used. Most residential properties are repaired with pressed concrete piers unless steel piers are requested by the homeowner; it is best if these options are discussed with one of our qualified inspectors.