My opinion/experience refers only to the Houston Area. I have leveled a few hundred stabbed homes, talked to a few hundred home owners, currently a junior pursuing my bachelors in construction management at the University of Houston (hardly matters here), and am in the process of kicking off my own foundation company. I have seen alot and heard alot over the years. Sleepy Owl's experiences sound about right. As far as which method is best for slabs:
Builders Piers=new construction
Bell bottoms=sand
6" solid friction pilings=clay
8" solid friction pilings=bogs
There are no horizontal shear forces in the soils beneath your home, so cable lock is excessive.
And the hole in the center of the cylinder causes the cylinder to fail from vertical force about 10% sooner than solid cylinders.
Concrete never cures.
That's a good thing.
The idea of Steel Helical Piers is cool, but, like bellbottoms, aren't installed truely vertical.
Remember Steel costs more and rusts. Unless concrete is poured around it, I won't trust it.
Seems to me that alot of companies are patenting new technology so they can charge top dollar.
Foundation repair should last a lifetime. It is hard for me to see myself paying for technology that hasn't, yet, stood the test of time.
All types of piers have a percentage of failure. However, I've had a pretty good experience with the 6" solid friction pile piers. To a point, when it rains, friction pilings experience increased surface friction from the expanding clay.
Foundation Repair methods
in Houston Construction, Home Repair, and Improvement
Posted · Edited by ICHL
My opinion/experience refers only to the Houston Area. I have leveled a few hundred stabbed homes, talked to a few hundred home owners, currently a junior pursuing my bachelors in construction management at the University of Houston (hardly matters here), and am in the process of kicking off my own foundation company. I have seen alot and heard alot over the years. Sleepy Owl's experiences sound about right. As far as which method is best for slabs:
Builders Piers=new construction
Bell bottoms=sand
6" solid friction pilings=clay
8" solid friction pilings=bogs
There are no horizontal shear forces in the soils beneath your home, so cable lock is excessive.
And the hole in the center of the cylinder causes the cylinder to fail from vertical force about 10% sooner than solid cylinders.
Concrete never cures.
That's a good thing.
The idea of Steel Helical Piers is cool, but, like bellbottoms, aren't installed truely vertical.
Remember Steel costs more and rusts. Unless concrete is poured around it, I won't trust it.
Seems to me that alot of companies are patenting new technology so they can charge top dollar.
Foundation repair should last a lifetime. It is hard for me to see myself paying for technology that hasn't, yet, stood the test of time.
All types of piers have a percentage of failure. However, I've had a pretty good experience with the 6" solid friction pile piers. To a point, when it rains, friction pilings experience increased surface friction from the expanding clay.
I hope this helps.