Helical Piers

Stabilizing Settling Foundations with Helical Piers in Michigan

The Supportworks warrantied helical pier system

Graphic render of our warrantied foundation helical pier

Our round shaft helical piers are made of heavy-duty steel and have a high resistance against bending.

If you need help lifting your home or lighter structures like decks back to their original position, Supportworks helical piers might be the answer you need. These systems are made of steel and include a set of helical blades on the lower section of the pier.

Helical piers are mechanically advanced into the soil using small construction or hand equipment. As they are installed to appropriate depths and capacities, they prevent any future settlement issues.

In many scenarios, these foundation piers will be able to lift your home back to a level position by the completion of the installation.

Our helical pier system is just what you need to stabilize your foundation. Call us for a free helical pier installation estimate today! We serve Ann Arbor, Sterling Heights, Warren, and many nearby areas in Michigan.

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How foundation helical pier systems work

A foundation helical pier design that meets ICC (International Code Criteria) standards, with a true helix shape.

A nonconforming blade, with more of a "duckbill" appearance. This makes it churn up and disturb the soil during installation.

Foundations will experience settlement issues when the soils below the house prove unable to support the weight of the structure. Helical pier systems create a solid supporting base that transfers the weight of your home downwards to strong supporting soils.

How Helical Piers Work

First, soil is removed from the area where the helical pier will be installed. Helical pier sections are mechanically "screwed," or advanced, into the soil.

Once proper depths and capacities are achieved, heavy duty steel foundation brackets are positioned below and against the foundation footing.

The weight of the home is then transferred through the helical piers to deep, competent soils. Lifting the home back towards its original position is attempted. Then, the soil around the foundation is carefully replaced.

Installing Helical Piers

The first section of the pier that is advanced into the ground has one or more helical blades (or "bearing plates") welded to the shaft.

Additional helical pier sections do not have bearing plates and are instead used to extend the pier to the necessary installation depth.

Helical piers can be installed from either the exterior or interior of your home, providing an opportunity to lift your home back to its original position by the end of the installation time.

Helical piers can also be effective at closing cracks caused by settlement, and can also potentially improve the operation of doors and windows.

When to use foundation helical piers

Product Features

Year-round installation
Warrantied for 25 Years
Galvanized steel design available
Suitable for both heavy & light loads
Does not rely on weight of structure for depth & capacity
Round shaft has high resistance to bending

With knowledge of local soil conditions, helical piers can be an ideal solution because the installing contractor will know exactly how deep to install the piers to reach a stable soil layer that can support your home. If your goals are the following, helical piers are a good choice:

You need the best opportunity to lift your home back to its original position.
Lighter structures, such as decks or stoops, are in need of stabilization.
You'd like minimal disturbance during installation.
You're looking for a fast, effective installation.
Restoring your property value is a priority.

Foundation Pier Application Chart

Push Piers

Can Be Installed From Home's Interior
Installation Usually Completed In Less Than One Week
Lowest Risk When Local Soil Information Is Unknown
Limited Disturbance To Lawn & Landscaping
Solution Extends Past Troubled Soils
Permanently Stabilize Foundation Without Maintenance
Ability To Lift Home Back To Level

Helical Piers

New Construction Of Home Or Addition
Can Be Installed From Home's Interior
Installation Usually Completed In Less Than One Week
Stabilize Light Structures Such As Decks Or Stoops
Limited Disturbance To Lawn & Landscaping
Solution Extends Past Troubled Soils
Permanently Stabilize Foundation Without Maintenance
Ability To Lift Home Back To Level

Concrete Piers

Can Be Installed From Home's Interior
Installation Usually Completed In Less Than One Week
Limited Disturbance To Lawn & Landscaping
Ability To Lift Home Back To Level

Removal & Replacement

Stabilize Light Structures Such As Decks Or Stoops

Concrete Underpinning

Stabilize Light Structures Such As Decks Or Stoops

Your helical pier installers in Michigan!

At HomeSpec Waterproofing and Foundation Repair, we're proud of our permanent, warrantied solutions for foundation settlement of all types. Our team of professional contractors has repaired settling foundations throughout Michigan, and we're ready to help you.

If you would like a free foundation helical pier installation estimate, call or e-mail us today! Each of our estimates comes at no obligation and includes an on-site inspection, free consultation, and a complimentary copy of our 90-page, color foundation repair book.

We serve Ann Arbor, Sterling Heights, Warren, and all surrounding areas.

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Removal and Replacement Of The Foundation

Total Foundation Replacement involves excavating the dirt around the home to expose the damaged foundation. Anything around the foundation, including gardens, foliage, patios, etc. must also be removed. That foundation is them removed and replaced.

This is an invasive, expensive, time-consuming process that should only be done as a last resort. If the wall is standing, we can almost always repair it.

More about Total Foundation Replacement

Concrete Underpinning

Before concrete underpinning is installed, the perimeter of the home must be excavated to expose the foundation. Then, larger concrete foundation footings are poured beneath the existing footings.

Most of the time, concrete underpinning does not expend past the 'active zone' and beyond the troubled soils. In other words, the soil beneath these newly enlarged footings may still be moving, causing the home above to continue to move.

Additionally, concrete shrinks as it cures, potentially creating small gaps between the new footing and the old one. When concrete underpinning is used as a solution and the problem continues, it is much more expensive to repair, as all the added concrete will need to be removed and the home will need to be resupported by a new, more substantial foundation system.

Concrete Piers

Before concrete piers are installed, the perimeter of the home must be excavated to expose the damaged foundation. Then, short, blunt concrete cylinders are pushed into the soil on top of one another, held together by a wire. Shims are then placed on top of the uppermost concrete cylinder, and the soil is backfilled.

The blunt concrete cylinders are wide in diameter -- about six to eight inches -- making it difficult to push the sections deep into the ground and past the troubled soil. There is also nothing to guide the direction of the pier, so they may not be installed straight.

Although concrete is a strong material, it will crack under pressure and during temperature changes. If concrete piers were a great idea, all manufacturers of foundation repair products would offer them. Instead, only a few companies struggle with this option.

Helical Piers

A helical pier is a steel pier system that has one or more helical blades welded the shaft of the first section. These shafts are driven into the ground around a foundation until strong supporting soils or bedrock are reached. Then the shaft is connected by a bracket to the foundation, and the weight of the building is transferred down the shaft to the supporting soils below.

Helical piers can be installed from the exterior or interior of your home and provide an opportunity to lift your home back to its original position.

Helical piers can also be effective at closing cracks caused by settlement and improving the operation of doors and windows.

Push Piers

Push piers are made of steel and are driven deep into the soil to bedrock or other stable soil. Push piers can be installed from the exterior or interior of your home and provide an opportunity to lift your home back to its original position, often closing cracks and improving the operation of doors and windows.

Our push piers are made with corrosion-resistant galvanized steel and incorporate a unique external sleeve on the topmost pier section that greatly enhances its strength and durability.

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