Have you received the word that you have some major foundation problems? You may wonder how on earth you go about repairing your home’s foundation? The home’s foundation can be repaired, and depending on the problem, there are different methods one can use to repair concrete foundations. When a section of the foundation is sinking, often a piering technique is used. Dallas Foundation Repair will share what piering is and how it repairs foundations that are sinking.
What Does Piering a Foundation Mean?
When the ground gives way underneath a concrete foundation and the foundation has begun to sink, the foundation will need immediate attention. When the foundation is sinking often a piering technique is used to hold the foundation in the proper place. When repairing a sinking foundation the first step is to excavate the bottom of the foundation. In the area where the foundation is sinking, the ground is dug out to provide space to install a steel pile. The steel pile is then attached to the foundation using support brackets. The steel pile is then driven into the ground until the pile hits solid ground or when the pile stops. It is preferable for the steel pile to hit load bearing soil or solid rock. Afterwards, a hydraulic jack is used to elevate the foundation to is proper height or when the foundation is once again leveled. It is at this point that the steel pile is attached to the foundation using the install support brackets that were previously attached to the underbelly of the foundation. Once the pile has been connected to the support, the weight will now transfer onto the rock or stable soil.
Difference Between Push & Helical Piers
When using a pile technique to repair a sinking foundation, there are two major piers or piles used. There is the push pier and the second is the helical pier. A push pier is a steel pile that is driven into the ground using a hydraulic ram. A push pier is designed to reach solid rock or bearing soil which can be used to repair a foundation in almost any soil condition. The steel piles used for push pier are individually tested for their load limitations. The helical piers are screwed into the ground using a hydraulic torque motor. Once the pile has been driven into the ground the pile is then attached to the foundation using a helical plate which is welded onto the bottom of a steel shaft. Helical piers are screwed into the ground and attached to the building in fairly similar way as a push pier. However, instead of being driven into stable soil or rock a helical plate is used to provide a stable surface to hold the weight of the foundation. Helical piers are used when no stable soil or rock can be found.
Slab Foundation Repair in Lewisville, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Plano, Richardson, Grapevine, Garland, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Arlington & Greater Dallas, Texas
When your home’s concrete foundation is sinking, your home can be saved. The foundation can be lifted and held in place with piering repairs. If your foundation is sinking and you need to save your home, contact Dallas Foundation Repair and schedule our services today.
