Types of Piers: Steel Piers
If you listen to the hype, it sounds like there must be 20 or 30 different types of piers
out there. Company A says they have an exclusive Super-Duper Pier that nobody
else has, and they claim it's the only one that really works. Company B, however,has “invented” the Ultra Fantastic Pier that you can only get from them, and theyclaim that it is the strongest pier on the market. “All others pale in comparison”, theysay.
But in all honesty, there are really only 3 basic types of piers available and used byall companies:
Pressed Pilings, Drilled Piers, and Steel Piers.
The small variations found in each of the 3 main types make very little difference tothe overall effectiveness of the pier. In this section, we will look at the Steel Piers.
The steel pier, like the drilled concrete pier, has been around for a very long time.
And there are as many different designs of steel piers as there are foundation repair
companies! But basically the designs all fall into 2 basic design groups: Those withbrackets, and those installed under the beam.
Older-style steel piers are installed outside the foundation perimeter of the home.
After the pier is installed by pressing the pipe into the ground with hydraulic rams
(again utilizing the weight of the house to push the piers), a bracket is used totransfer the weight of the home to the pipe. This involves bolting brackets to theconcrete foundation, which can weaken it, and also creates a tremendous bending
moment on the pipe just below the bracket. Many steel piers have been known tofail at this point. Also, the bracket, pipe, and bolts often stick out of the soil aroundthe home creating an unattractive and often dangerous situation.
Newer-style steel piers are installed directly under the perimeter grade beam. Thesepiers do not involve drilling into the concrete foundation, and do not rely on a bracket
to transfer the load of the house onto the pipe. This style of steel pier sits directly
below the weight of the house, just like a drilled pier or pressed piling. Nothingremains above ground level. Many times, these piers are designed with 1 pipe
inside of another to add strength and allow for flexibility of section lengths. Thisdouble-walled steel pier is significantly stronger and longer-lasting than thetraditional single-walled steel piers. This is the only steel pier type installed byWilliamson Foundation Repair.
ADVANTAGES:* Reduced skin friction allows for much deeper installation where rock is very deep.
* Excellent inter-locking characteristics make these piers preferred in areas with a lotof ground water and, thus, lateral soil drift.

Office: 469-698-8332

2850 Shoreline Tr., Suite #20, Rockwall, TX 75032

www.rwfoundation.com

* Relatively quick installation time, as no concrete drying is required.
* Very little soil is removed, which makes this a relatively clean pier to install.
DISADVANTAGES:* Cost. A good steel pier will cost approximately twice that of a concrete pressedpiling pier.
* To compete on price, many companies use thin, inferior grade steel which will
bend and break over time.
* As many companies utilize proprietary bracket designs (for older-style steel piers),
other companies may not be able to adjust these piers if the original installationcompany either refuses service or goes out of business.
Overall, Steel Piers are a very good foundation repair system where needed.
However, older-style steel piers with a bracket bolted into the foundation should be
avoided if possible.

Office: 469-698-8332

2850 Shoreline Tr., Suite #20, Rockwall, TX 75032

www.rwfoundation.com