What are Helical Piers?
Foundation Repair using Helical Piers
Internal Helical Pier Installation for a Slab Foundation
Helical Piers
Helical Piers
Helical piers or screw piles are a type of foundation support system designed to provide stability to your foundation. Helical piles are steel pipe with a metal disc or helix welded to create a type of screw that is twisted deep into the soil below your home, then attached to a sturdy bracket that supports your foundation from further settlement.
Here’s why helical piers have become the gold standard for residential foundation repair, especially in California and Arizona’s challenging soil conditions. When your home’s foundation was originally built, it was designed to rest on stable soil. But the expansive clay soils common throughout California and Arizona expand when wet and shrink when dry, creating constant movement that slowly destroys your foundation’s stability. Traditional concrete footings simply can’t handle this soil movement, which is why you’re seeing cracks, settlement, and structural problems.
Helical piers solve this problem by bypassing the unstable surface soil entirely. The steel helixes act like giant screws that bore deep into the earth until they reach bedrock or dense, stable soil layers that don’t move with weather changes. This means your home’s weight is now supported by solid, unchanging ground instead of shifting clay soil. The steel brackets then transfer your home’s entire weight from the failing concrete foundation directly to these deep, stable anchor points.
This system is particularly effective for residential properties because it can be installed with minimal disruption to your landscaping, requires no concrete curing time, and provides immediate load-bearing capacity. Unlike other foundation repair methods that only slow down settlement, helical piers actually lift your foundation back to its original level and prevent any future movement. The steel construction is designed to last longer than your home itself, making it a permanent solution that protects your investment for generations.
Most importantly, helical piers work in virtually any soil condition, from loose fill dirt to expansive clay to sandy soil, especially for loose or unstable soil conditions, making them the most reliable solution for California and Arizona’s diverse geology.
Push Piers
Push piers are steel shafts that are hydraulically pushed deep into the soil below your foundation and connected to a specialty heavy duty steel bracket connected to the bottom of your foundation. Once installed correctly, they will stop any future settlement permanently.
Here’s how push piers work and why they’re incredibly effective for residential foundation repair. The process begins by excavating around your foundation to expose the footing. Our hydraulic equipment then drives solid steel pipe sections deep into the ground using the weight of your house as resistance. This isn’t guesswork – we push each pier until it reaches bedrock or dense, load-bearing soil that can support your home’s weight permanently.
The key to push piers’ effectiveness lies in load transfer. Instead of your foundation sitting on unstable surface soil that shifts, settles, and moves with weather changes, the steel piers create a direct connection between your home and the solid, unchanging ground deep below. Heavy-duty steel brackets attach the pier system directly to your existing foundation, essentially creating new, deeper footings that can’t be affected by surface soil problems.
Push piers are often installed every 5-6 feet along areas of settlement on your foundation, with each pier capable of supporting as much as 106,000 pounds – far more than any residential structure requires. For residential properties, push piers offer several critical advantages. They’re installed without vibration or disturbance to your home, meaning no jarring impacts, no noise disruption to your daily life, and no damage to your home’s interior finishes or belongings. The hydraulic pushing process is smooth and controlled, allowing your family to remain comfortably in your home during installation. They can be installed in tight spaces around your home without major excavation or landscape destruction. The installation process is relatively fast, typically taking just a few days rather than weeks. Most importantly, push piers don’t just stop settlement – they can actually lift your foundation back toward its original level, closing cracks and realigning doors and windows.
Unlike concrete solutions that rely on the same unstable soil that caused your problems, push piers bypass soil issues entirely. These piers are guaranteed to last a lifetime, ensuring your home will remain stable. Once installed, your home will never settle again because it’s now supported by bedrock or engineered soil layers that have remained stable for thousands of years.
Foundation Repair Using Push Piers
Push Pier Installation for a Slab Foundation
Warranty Information
Bristol FX offers Extended and Lifetime Warranties on our products and services. Push and Helical piers are installed with a lifetime warranty against defects. We offer warranties of up to 20 years on below-grade waterproofing, including foundation and basement walls.
Detailed warranty information is provided with all repair proposals.
Some warranties are offered at additional expense.
Our Promise To You
Areas We Serve
Bristol FX Service Areas – We proudly service residential customers in cities throughout Los Angeles, Kern, Orange, and Ventura Counties. We have an extended service area and travel throughout CA, NV, and AZ for commercial projects.
We offer consulting services worldwide, and government projects nationwide. We take pride in the long-standing relationships built within the respective communities we serve.
We are a partnering contractor with ECP or Earth Contact Products, an industry leader in manufacturing foundation repair solutions.
Since we’re right in your backyard, you can call us today at (661)-2940-1313 and schedule your free, no-obligation foundation inspection!
Frequently Ask Question
What are push piers and how do they work?
Push piers are steel shafts that are hydraulically driven deep into the soil beneath your foundation. They are attached to a heavy-duty steel bracket that stabilizes your home and prevents future settlement by transferring the foundation load to stable soil or bedrock.
What are helical piers and when are they used?
Helical piers, also known as screw piles, are steel pipes with helical plates (metal discs) welded to them. They are screwed into the ground like a large screw to provide support for foundations. They are ideal for lighter structures or in areas where soil conditions require minimal vibration during installation.
Which is better: push piers or helical piers?
The choice depends on your soil conditions, foundation type, and the load requirements of your structure. Push piers are often used for heavier buildings with deeper load-bearing strata, while helical piers are versatile and can be used for lighter structures or in unstable soil. A foundation expert can help determine the best solution for your home.
Do push piers and helical piers come with a warranty?
Yes. Bristol FX offers a lifetime warranty against defects on all push and helical pier installations. We also provide extended warranties on other services, such as waterproofing and foundation repairs, for up to 20 years.
Are your foundation repair technicians certified?
Absolutely. All Bristol FX employees are manufacturer-certified and undergo rigorous training to ensure every task is performed with precision. We also perform background checks and regular drug and alcohol screening to maintain our high standards.
Our repair professionals provide permanent engineered solutions to your foundation settlement problems, concrete corrosion, structural deficiencies, and rehabilitation needs.
WE ARE ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY FROM SOLVING YOUR FOUNDATION PROBLEMS
Call (661)-294-1313
Our repair professionals provide permanent engineered solutions to your foundation settlement problems, concrete corrosion, structural deficiencies, and rehabilitation needs.
WE ARE ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY FROM SOLVING YOUR FOUNDATION PROBLEMS
Call (661)-294-1313