A marked plan
A drawing showing each pier position, so you can see which part of the structure is being supported rather than just a count.
Foundation Piers and Underpinning
Piers transfer the weight of the house past the clay that keeps swelling and shrinking, down onto something steadier. An independent provider can explain which type suits your house, where they go and how depth is decided on the day.
- Referral Service
- Slab & Pier and Beam
- Residential & Commercial
When Piers Are Recommended
- A measured drop at one corner or along one elevation
- Damage that has kept getting worse across several seasons
- Cracks that reopen every summer after being patched
- A section of the house that has separated from the rest
- An engineer's report calling for underpinning
Piers are the answer when the soil under part of the house can no longer be relied on. They are not the answer to every crack, and a good inspection will tell you when drainage or a plumbing repair is the real fix.
What the Work Can Include
Every pier job should be documented well enough that another contractor could read it and know exactly what was done.
Driving to refusal
Piers are pushed down until they meet resistance the crew judges adequate for the load. Depth varies across a single house, and the record should show it.
Load transfer and lift
Once the piers are set, the weight is moved onto them and the lift is taken in stages while the house is watched.
Backfill and clean-up
Holes are filled, soil is compacted back and the yard or flowerbeds are left as tidy as the work allows. Expect some disturbance where the crew dug.
Concrete or Steel?
Pressed concrete cylinders and steel pipe piers both work, and both are used widely across the county. The differences come down to how far each can be driven, how they handle the depth of active clay in your particular yard, access around the house, and what the load being carried is. A single-story brick ranch and a two-story house with a masonry chimney are not the same problem.
Our side-by-side comparison sets out where each is normally chosen and what to ask the crew before signing. Ask what depth they expect, what happens if they have to go deeper, and what the guarantee says in writing, including whether it moves with the house if you sell.
Piers and lifting go together, which is covered on the leveling page, and the slab side is on slab foundation repair. If nothing has been measured yet, start with an inspection or check service areas.
Foundation Pier Questions
What affects the cost of foundation piers?
The number of piers, the type, the depth they reach and whether any are interior piers that need tunneling. Access matters too: a tight side yard with a fence and utilities slows everything down. Ask the provider to price the job from the survey and the marked plan.
How deep do the piers go?
It is decided on site, not in advance. Crews drive until they hit resistance suitable for the load, and depth can vary from pier to pier on the same house. Be wary of anyone quoting an exact depth before they have been to your property. Compare the two types on our pier comparison page.
Will my yard be dug up?
Yes, at each pier location. Holes are dug along the perimeter beam, then backfilled and compacted afterward. Plants and sprinkler lines in the way should be discussed beforehand, and lawn in the work path will take time to recover.
Do I need an engineer before pier work?
Not always, but an independent structural engineer's evaluation is worth considering for a large job, an unusual structure or a house you are buying or selling. The engineer works for you, not the contractor, and can specify what should be done. Ask whether the independent provider will work to an engineer's plan.
Ask about piers for your house
Get the survey, the marked plan and the written scope before you commit to anything.