Helical Piers vs Push Piers

What is the difference between helical piers and push piers? Why are they even important? If you’ve ever owned a home that over time the soil had shifted and it was no longer structurally sound you understand the importance of helical piers and push piers. They are both used as structural support systems to make a building structurally sound. They do this in various ways while still being very similar to each other. So, what are the similarities and differences?

Helical Piers

Helical Piers are a steel tube with a fitted helical plate attached to it. That plate looks very much like a post hole digger. A hydraulic motor turns the pipe to screw it into the ground. This process causes the plates to pull the pier into the ground rather than push the pier into it. Helical piers are driven into the ground until the proper depth is reached. Each depth will vary from project to project because it is based on the load capacity that needs to be achieved. Helical piers can hold up to a ten-story building. The piers are also strategically placed around the building to share the weight of the building. Once the piers have seen screwed into the ground to the proper depth, the foundation bracket is then secured to the building. This method stabilizes the foundation that have weakened or needed support because of the soil condition.

Push Piers

Push piers are very similar to helical piers in that piers are put into the ground to shift the weight of a building. There are many differences as well though. One of the major differences is how push piers are placed into the ground. They are installed exactly how it sounds, by using a hydraulic motor to “push” it into the ground until it has hit stable soil. Another major difference between them is with a helical pier it is fastened to the foundation bracket at the end however with a push pier the foundation bracket gets secured first and the pier is pushed through the bracket. At the end, the weight of the building is then evenly distributed.

These are some of the differences between helical piers and push piers. For more information on them take a look at the Helical page. Here at Park Range Construction we specialize in structural support. We understand how important it is to have a structurally sound building. We have done many projects from commercial building, historical buildings, to residential communities. Call us today for more information!

Published on 2-14-2019