Foundation piers
Piers hold up part of the house from firmer ground below the clay that shrinks and swells. Here are the common types and what a good pier proposal shows.
A foundation pier is a column set under a beam so the house bears on steadier soil or rock instead of the active clay near the surface. On Rolling Plains clays like the Rowena series, USDA soil descriptions record dry-season cracks reaching 20 to 30 inches below the surface. That upper zone is where most of the seasonal movement happens. The idea is to get support below it, or down to a point where the pier won't go any further.
Which pier types are common?
- Pressed concrete piers. Short precast concrete cylinders stacked and pushed into the ground with a hydraulic jack until they stop moving.
- Steel push piers. Steel pipe sections driven down using the house's own weight for resistance, usually to rock or very firm soil.
- Helical piers. Steel shafts with screw-shaped plates turned into the ground while the installer tracks the torque. Often used for lighter loads, porches and additions.
- Drilled concrete piers. Holes drilled and filled with reinforced concrete, sometimes called for in an engineer's plan.
How is the number of piers chosen?
It comes from the elevation readings and the spacing the pier system needs. The contractor marks where the beam has dropped and places piers along that stretch, usually a set number of feet apart. A good proposal includes a drawing with every pier shown, the pier type, and which ones (if any) are inside the house. If two bids are far apart on pier count, ask each contractor to explain their readings to you.
What should you ask about depth?
- How deep do your piers usually go around Abilene, and what stops them?
- Will I get a written log of each pier's depth or pressure?
- What happens if a pier stops short of the depth you expected?
Can piers make a house worse?
Yes, if they're the wrong fix. Piering one side of a house that's actually rising in the middle can crack it in new places. The cause matters as much as the hardware. On a big or uncertain job, an engineer's report gives you a plan you can hand to any contractor for a price.
What's in a pier warranty?
That varies. Warranties differ in length, in whether they transfer to the next owner, and in what's covered: the pier, later adjustments, or cosmetic damage. Get it in writing and read the exclusions, especially anything about drainage or plumbing leaks.
We don't quote prices. A contractor can only price foundation work after measuring the floors and finding what's making the house move, and what you pay is agreed between you and that contractor.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Which pier type is best for my house?
There's no single answer. Soil, the weight being carried, access and the contractor's experience all play a part. Ask why they chose their system and what the alternatives would be.
Does pier work need a permit in Abilene?
Ask the contractor and the City of Abilene's Building Inspections office at City Hall, 555 Walnut Street. They can tell you whether your scope needs a permit.
Related services
- Slab foundation repair
- Crawl space foundation repair
- Foundation evaluation and crack repair
- Foundation drainage
More background: Abilene foundation guide.
Cracked brick, a sticking door or a floor that slopes?
Call and get connected with a foundation repair contractor who works around Abilene.