When Piers Are Necessary
Not every foundation problem requires piers. Minor crack injection and drainage improvements often address the symptoms without structural underpinning. Piers become necessary when the foundation itself has moved — when sections have dropped, tilted, or settled at different rates. Signs that indicate pier installation may be needed: floors that slope noticeably (you can feel it walking across a room), doors and windows that have shifted so much they no longer latch, visible gaps between the wall and ceiling or between the wall and floor, or cracks that have reopened after previous repairs. In Hamilton County, pier installation is most common in older homes where the original footings were sized to support soil conditions that have since changed due to drainage issues or clay shrinkage.
Helical Piers vs Push Piers
Helical piers are screwed into the ground like a large bolt, using helical plates to gain purchase in stable soil. They work in most soil conditions and can be installed with minimal vibration — making them ideal for existing structures. Installation access is minimal; we can work inside a crawl space or along an exterior foundation wall. Helical piers are also used for new construction and additions. Push piers (also called resistance piers) are driven hydraulically into the ground until they reach refusal on bedrock or dense soil. They use the weight of the structure itself as a reaction force. Push piers generally reach deeper than helical piers and can be used to attempt controlled lifting of a settled foundation section. Both systems carry manufacturer-backed lifetime warranties.
The Pier Installation Process
Installation typically takes 1–2 days for a standard residential project. We excavate small sections around affected footings, install the pier brackets, drive or screw piers to the specified depth, and connect them to the foundation. Once all piers are in place, we stabilize the foundation at its current position (and can attempt controlled lifting in some cases). Backfill and cleanup follow. There's no disruption to your landscaping beyond the small excavation areas, and most homeowners stay in the house during the work.