Foundation piers: how the options compare
Two bids for the same Bell County house can call for different pier systems, different counts and different depths. Here's how to make sense of them.
A pier carries the weight of a settled section of foundation down through the clay that shrinks and swells near the surface, to soil or rock that moves less. In eastern Bell County that can mean going a long way through blackland clay; on the Grand Prairie side around Killeen, limestone may be closer to the surface. The right system depends on the house, the soil profile, and how deep firm bearing is at your address.
How do the common pier types compare?
| Type | How it goes in | When it's used | Ask about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressed concrete | Short precast cylinders hydraulically pressed down one on top of another | Very common on residential slabs in Texas clay | Typical depth reached, and whether segments are tied with a cable or rod |
| Steel push | Steel pipe sections driven with a ram, using the house's weight for resistance | Heavier homes where firm bearing is deeper | Depth and driving pressure at each pier |
| Helical | Steel shaft with helix plates screwed in to a target torque | Lighter loads such as porches, additions and some pier-and-beam work | Installation torque record for each pier |
| Drilled concrete | A hole is drilled, reinforced, and filled with concrete | Some new construction and specific repair designs | Hole depth, diameter and reinforcement |
What should be in a pier plan?
- A drawing of the house showing each pier location, numbered
- The pier type and the reason it was chosen for your house
- Spacing between piers along the beam
- The depth or resistance the installer will drive to
- A promise of a pier log after the job: depth and pressure or torque for every pier
Why do pier counts differ so much between bids?
Some contractors pier only the section that's settled; others pier a full side or the whole perimeter. Neither approach is automatically right. Ask each one to show you, on their elevation map, why the piers stop where they do. A plan that covers the whole house when the readings show one low corner deserves a hard look, and so does a plan that piers one corner when the readings show a whole side has dropped.
What about utility lines?
Piering means digging next to the house, often near gas, water and cable lines. Texas811 is the free statewide call-before-you-dig service and asks for two business days' notice. Your contractor should request locates before excavating.
We don't quote prices. The contractor prices the work after taking floor readings and working out why the house is moving, and any number offered before that is a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Which pier type is the best?
There isn't a single best type. It depends on the house's weight, the soil and how deep firm bearing is. Ask every contractor to explain why their system fits your house.
What's a pier log and why do I want one?
It's a record of each pier's location, depth and installation pressure or torque. It helps with warranty claims and answers a buyer's questions if you sell.
Related services
- Slab foundation repair
- Pier-and-beam foundation repair
- Foundation drainage and moisture control
- Foundation evaluations and crack repair
More background: Bell County foundation repair guide.
Brick cracking, doors binding, or a floor that's started to tilt?
Call and a foundation contractor who works in Bell County will come take readings and explain what's moving.