Overview
A helical pier is a steel shaft with one or more helix-shaped plates near the tip. It is rotated into the ground with a hydraulic motor, much like a screw, until it reaches soil that can support the intended load. A bracket then connects the pier to the foundation.
Because helical piers are screwed in rather than driven by the weight of the structure, they can be used for lighter structures and in situations where push piers may not be suitable. Installation torque is often monitored and used as an indicator of capacity.
Helical piers are used for stabilizing settling foundations, supporting additions and porches, and in new construction. They can often be installed with smaller equipment and little vibration.
What to expect, step by step
- Evaluating the structure, the loads and the soils.
- Planning pier locations, spacing and target capacity.
- Excavating at each pier location.
- Rotating each pier into the ground while monitoring torque.
- Backfilling and restoring the work area.
Things worth considering
- Installation records, such as depth and torque, help document the work.
- Engineering design is common, especially for larger structures.
- Soil conditions can affect how deep piers need to go.
- Helical piers may be used alongside other repairs, like drainage changes.
- Warranty terms vary. Ask what is covered and for how long.
Local notes for Denver
Parts of Colorado's Front Range are known for expansive clay soils and claystone bedrock that swell when wet and shrink as they dry. That movement can affect foundations, basement slabs, driveways and sidewalks, and it is one reason many local homes are built with deep foundations or floating basement slabs.
Front Range weather brings freeze-thaw cycles, spring snowmelt and summer storms. Keeping water away from the foundation with working gutters, extended downspouts, grading that slopes away from the house and careful irrigation near the foundation is a common first step before or alongside any repair.
We take inquiries from Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Littleton, Arvada, Westminster.
Before you send an inquiry
- Say whether you are buying or selling the home, since timelines may matter.
- Mention any previous foundation, drainage or concrete work, and whether a warranty came with it.
- Have any inspection or engineer reports handy, such as from a home purchase.
- Mention any doors or windows that stick, no longer latch or show new gaps.
- Describe whether water shows up in the basement, crawl space or against the foundation, and when.
Signs to slow down
- Recommending major structural repairs without looking at drainage and grading.
- No plan for restoring landscaping, walkways or finishes disturbed by the work.
- No written proposal describing the scope, materials and number of piers or supports.
- Large up-front payments demanded before any work begins.
- Vague warranty terms, or no answer about whether the warranty transfers to a new owner.
What to ask before you commit
- Is engineering design included?
- How will you verify each pier's capacity?
- How many piers, and how deep do you expect them to go?
- Why do you recommend helical piers instead of other pier types?
- What warranty applies?
People also ask
- How are helical piers different from push piers?
- Helical piers are screwed in with a motor. Push piers are driven using the structure's weight as resistance.
- How deep do helical piers go?
- Until they reach soil that supports the target load. Depth varies by site.
- Can helical piers lift a foundation?
- In some cases they are used for lifting, depending on the structure and plan.
Related topics
- Helical Pile Load Testing: How helical pile capacity is verified, what torque correlations mean, and when load tests are used.
- Helical Piers for New Construction: How helical piles are used as foundations for new homes, additions and other structures, and what to discuss with builders.
- Push Piers vs. Helical Piers: Comparing push piers and helical piers for foundation repair, and how contractors decide between them.
Tell us a little about what you need, and we'll get back to you about helical piers.