Piering is a type of foundation stabilization in which the structure receives support through the use of piles or piers (large beams made of steel or concrete) driven into the soil.
Most often, piling is a solution for buildings where the soil underneath the foundation is unable to support and keep the structure from settling excessively.
Essentially, a piering foundation will take the weight of the large structure and transfer it from a weak soil area to a layer of rock or hard soil.
There are a few common signs that could indicate an issue with your foundation.
First, if your building has brickwork, you may notice cracks that move up your brick in a stair-step formation. You may also find that windows and doors in your building stick, have separated from their framing, or have cracks that lead out from corners.
Another common sign is interior cracks, such as in the ceiling, drywall, crawl spaces or concrete footing, walls, and floors.
Concrete piles consist of pre-cast or pre-stressed concrete. Concrete piles have an unknown holding capacity and do not pass through the active layer of soil. Concrete piers are larger in mass and have increased weight that can negatively impact your foundation by accelerating settlement. If the weight of your home is situated on unstable, active soil, the problem still exists.
Micropiles, mini-piles, and pin piles are made out of steel and are the common selection for the underpinning method of foundation repair. This method involves drilling the pile into the ground and sometimes injecting grout into the soil for a stronger foundation. These products are all considered Micropiles, but they tend to be smaller in diameter and provide support for lighter structures.
Atlas Resistance Piers are used to restore and/or stabilize homes that have settled due to a wide variety of soil or foundation problems.
Properly installed, Atlas Resistance Piers can prevent further settlement by stabilizing foundations. They can also be used to restore settled structures to nearly their original positions, often fixing structural defects such as cracks and deformities caused by the settlement.
The Atlas Resistance Pier installation process requires two stages. First, we drive the pipe pier to a firm load-bearing strata or rock. The lift equipment is then attached to the foundation repair bracket. Hydraulic jacks, combined with a manifold system, are then used to lift the structure. The Atlas Resistance Pier System procedure provides measured support strength.
We carefully space the Atlas Resistance Piers at selected locations along the load-bearing walls and columns at affected locations. Each pier is driven to a suitable soil stratum or rock and then tested to a force greater than required to support the structure. This procedure effectively load-tests each pier prior to lift and provides a measured factor of safety on each pier.
When you partner with us, you are getting more than just access to the industry’s best products. We require our network of contractors to be certified and offer field certification from our on-site team members. This ensures the quality of work performed with our products. We care about the success of your projects, and every product we recommend will be geared to your unique requirements. In the case of foundation piering systems, we will take you down the best path and help you navigate all of the options for brackets and terminations.
To learn more about foundation piering, contact Intech Anchoring Systems today.
Tim is the President of Intech Anchoring and has 25 years of experience in the Civil Engineering and Geostructural Industry. Tim has developed extensive industry knowledge by working to support the needs of specialty contractors at each and every business level. Tim’s diverse industry background has given him exposure to a wide variety civil construction projects, ranging from the simplest residential applications to the most complex commercial and industrial projects. Coupled with a highly skilled and educated team, Tim focuses on providing the highest quality products and solutions to Intech Anchoring’s customers in order to consistently exceed expectations.