Foundation piers for Monroe, Louisiana homes
Two bids for the same house can call for different numbers and types of piers. Here's how the common systems compare, so the bids make sense.
A pier carries the weight of a settled part of the house down through the soil that's shrinking and swelling to ground that moves less. In a river-built landscape like Ouachita Parish, how deep that firmer ground sits can change from one street to the next, which is one reason contractors favor different systems.
How do the main pier types compare?
| Pressed concrete | Steel push | Helical | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it goes in | Short precast cylinders pressed down one on top of another | Steel pipe sections driven hydraulically against the house's weight | Steel shaft with helix plates turned into the ground |
| When it stops | When the stack stops moving under pressure | At refusal on firm soil | When it reaches a target torque |
| Often used for | Many residential slabs and perimeter beams | Heavier loads with firm bearing at depth | Lighter loads such as porches and additions |
| Ask about | Typical depth and whether segments are tied together | Depth and pressure at each pier | Torque record at each pier |
Pressed concrete piers
Precast concrete segments are pressed into the ground with a hydraulic jack under the beam, then capped and shimmed. They're common on houses in clay country. Ask how deep they typically go on houses near yours and whether the segments are connected with a cable or rod.
Steel push piers
A bracket is fastened to the footing and steel pipe is driven down using the weight of the house as the reaction. Each pier is driven until it stops, which gives a pressure reading at every location. Ask for that record.
Helical piers
These screw into the ground with a hydraulic drive head. Because they don't rely on the house's weight to install, they're often chosen for lighter structures. The torque it takes to turn them is used to judge capacity.
Questions to ask about any pier plan
- Why this system for my house and my soil?
- How many piers, where, and how far apart?
- Will I get a pier log with the depth and pressure or torque at each one?
- Who calls Louisiana 811 for utility locates before digging? State law requires notice at least 48 hours before excavating, not counting weekends and holidays.
- What does the warranty cover, and does it transfer if I sell?
The contractor sets the price after taking readings and figuring out why the house is moving. We don't quote prices, and nobody can price a leveling or piering job honestly over the phone before they've been under or around the house.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Which pier type is best?
There isn't a single answer. It depends on the weight of the house, the soil profile, and how deep firm bearing is. Ask each contractor to explain why they chose their system for your house.
What's a pier log?
A record of each pier's location, depth and installation pressure or torque. Keep it with your warranty; a future buyer's inspector may ask for it.
Related services
- House leveling (raised and pier-and-beam homes)
- Slab foundation repair
- Foundation drainage and moisture control
- Foundation inspections and crack repair
More background: Monroe, Louisiana foundation guide.
Floors sloping, doors dragging, or brick cracking after a wet spring?
Call and a local foundation contractor will come take readings and tell you what's moving.