What Are Helical and Push Piers?

Helical piers and push piers are support systems that stabilize settling foundations. They both have the same goal (to stabilize a foundation), but their installation process and functionality differ slightly. Helical piers are solid, steel rods that have been coated in zinc to fight off corrosion. This is incredibly important because the soil in Springfield, MO is incredibly acidic, so the system must be anti-corrosive to combat this. Helical piers have welded helix blades at one end of the shaft, making it easier for contractors to drive the rod down and install it in the soil.

Push piers are also galvanized to fight off corrosion, but they are hollow instead of solid. They do not have helix blades and are instead pushed into the ground by a hydraulic machine. Both pier systems are then secured to the house and the weight of the foundation is transferred to the load-bearing soil layers deep underground. These soil layers are dense and deep enough to not be affected by moisture as much as the upper soil layers are. Once the piers are installed, they also have the potential to straighten out the uneven homes.

While helical piers rely on being driven into the ground until reaching the required soil depths, push piers need a bit more than that to function. Push piers hold up a foundation by exerting a large amount of upwards pressure, but in order to stay in the soil, the house needs to exert an equal amount of pressure. Because of this, push piers are best used for bigger homes that weigh enough to act as a counter-weight for the pier. You won’t have to worry about figuring out which pier system your home needs, however, since this is decided by the contractor upon inspection.