A helical pier system is a permanent solution to the foundation settling problem. Once they are installed, they are meant to stay for as long as the house is there. The piers themselves are made of galvanized steel, and they are coated with zinc to prevent corrosion. This is crucial since steel corrodes quickly in acidic environments, and the soil of Kokomo, IN, is strongly acidic past 13 inches in depth. Despite the acidic soil, surrounding groundwater, and oxygen, helical piers resist corrosion because of its zinc coating. One kind of foundation repair system, concrete piers, can be considered a short-term solution. This is because concrete as a material cannot withstand staying under soil and supporting a house for very long. The freeze-thaw effect causes concrete deterioration every year, resulting in the pier crumbling eventually. Concrete piers also are notorious for crumbling due to skin friction, which is when the soil exerts negative pressure onto the pier. Unable to handle the pressure from the skin friction plus the weight of the house, concrete piers break and leave the house without support once more. Helical piers have a sleek design and can handle more pressure than concrete, so they aren’t affected by skin friction. Freeze-thaw also has no effect on the tough, steel rods. Because they never crumble or break apart, they are always there to stabilize your home; so, you don’t have to get them replaced.