5 Ways To Know If You Need Foundation Piers

Discovering signs of foundation problems in your home can be concerning, yet understanding these signs can help you address potential problems before they escalate.

Foundation piers are often a viable solution for stabilizing and correcting foundation damage.

Here are five indicators that your home might need foundation piers: 

1. Cracks in Walls or Floors

Visible cracks, particularly those that are widening, are clear signs of foundation settling or shifting. 

2. Sticking Doors and Windows

If doors and windows no longer close smoothly or you notice they’re misaligned, it could be due to foundation movement. 

3. Gaps Between Walls

Any noticeable separation where interior walls meet the ceiling or floor may indicate a shifting foundation. 

4. Sagging Floors

Floors that dip or sag, especially in older homes, often point to underlying foundation issues.

5. Leaning Chimney

A chimney that leans or tilts away from the house is a telltale sign of foundation settling beneath it. 

Helical Piers

Helical piers resemble giant screws and are twisted into the ground.

Their design allows them to be installed with minimal disturbance to the surrounding area, making them a preferred choice for lighter structures or homes where additional foundation support is needed without extensive excavation.

Helical piers are also advantageous in areas with soft surface soil, as they can reach deeper, more stable layers. 

Push Piers

Constructed from steel, push piers are hydraulically driven through unstable soil layers until they reach a solid, load-bearing soil.

Once in place, the weight of the structure is carefully transferred onto the piers, effectively stabilizing and potentially lifting the foundation.

Push piers are best suited for heavier buildings and are often used when significant foundation settlement has occurred. 

Slab Piers

These piers are specifically designed for homes with slab-on-grade foundations.

Similar to push piers, slab piers are driven deep into the ground to reach stable soil or bedrock.

However, they feature a mechanism to directly lift and support the concrete slab, addressing issues such as cracking or uneven floors caused by foundation settlement.