Foundation Repair Utah - A-1 Helical Piering, LLC

What is a Helical Pier?

A helical pier is a steel shaft with mulitiple split helix plates welded onto the shaft. Additional shafts are added for length to until the helix plates reaches firm soil. Once the proper depth and force is the pier transfers the load via the shaft to the helix portion of the pier. Finally the pier needs to be installed to the proper depth and force. While the concept is simple, it takes good engineering, manufacturing, and testing to make a high quality helical pier Utah.

For Industrial and Commercial applications Dixie piers are rated up to loads of 250,000 pounds.

How do Helical Piers work?

Helical piers work by transferring the weight of a building down the pier's shaft to the helix plate. The shaft is used to bypass "poor" soils which cannot properly support the building or structure above. The helix plate once installed in firm soil (loading bearing capable) transfers the building's weight to the firm soil or rock in which it has been embedded in for permanent foundation repair Utah. For helical piers to work properly they must be installed to the proper depth and force. Prior to installing the piers, the installer (small jobs) or a professional engineer will determine the number of piers & position along with the required force / depth of the piers to properly support the load.

How are Helical Piers Installed?

Each helical pier Utah is screwed into the ground and to the proper depth / force by a rotating hydraulic power head. The hydraulic power head is driven by a small excavator or in restricted working areas a portable hydraulic pump. The rotating power head monitors the torque (force) being applied to the pier. This force is directly related to amount of load the pier can support. Additional shafts are added until the helix plate reaches firm soil. Once the piers are installed a pier top is added. For new foundations the top will likely be a rebar top which is connected to the new foundation's rebar.

For foundation repair Utah, the dirt is removed to expose the bottom of the foundation needing to be stabilized / lifted. The top of the helical pier Utah is installed level with the bottom of the existing foundation. Lifting bracket tops are installed on all the piers. The lifting brackets are also bolted to the foundation. Using multiple hydraulic jacks, the foundation is lifted as much as possible (a reasonable goal is to be able to open doors & window but most importantly stabilizing the building). The lifting brackets are tightened in place and the hydraulic jacks are removed. The removed dirt is replaced.

What are other uses for Helical Piers?

Helical piers are also used to:

• Support retaining walls
• Boardwalks
• Tension loads, bridges, guide wires, tie downs

Dixie piers are one of only two brands of piers which have been approved by Building Code Approval Agencies - ICC and BOCA.