When it comes to your home or business, the one thing an owner has to take seriously is the foundation. Knowing what to look for when the foundation stability is a concern is only half the battle. Learning enough to make an informed decision on how to repair the foundation is the second half of this equation.
Piers have become one of the most popular ways to ensure foundation stability in recent years. Though one of the biggest factors is the money savings it offers, that is not the only reason contractors and homeowners alike have moved to concrete or steel piers.
Concrete And Steel Piers Are Long Lasting
Part of that money saving comes from the longevity of concrete and steel piers. Properly installed and cared for concrete piers can last you from 70 years to upwards of 100. Steel piers beat the concrete cousins out by lasting a minimum of 150 years.
Either type of pier can secure the foundation of your home or business for much longer than the alternatives. Depending on your location and soil type, one may actually be better for you than the other. The best part is that your foundation expert will know this information or know how to acquire it to insure you get the best piers for your property.
Foundation Piers Offer Stability
Concrete and steel piers work by reaching deep into the earth, past all the easily degraded and loose soil and finding the bedrock. They take the weight of the foundation from the soil, stopping that slow but steady sinking your foundation is obligated to do, and transferring it to the much more stable bedrock.
The stability this offers is the number one reason why contractors are moving away from trying to lift a foundation and fill in the settled areas (also known as Underpinning) and towards the pier systems.
Something else that all property owners love is the fact that utility installs and repairs are 100% easier due to the ease of access you get with a concrete or steel pier foundation. This means less work, less time, and less money for electrical and plumbing needs.
Difference Between Concrete And Steel Piers
There are some crucial differences between Concrete and Steel Piers. As stated above, the life expectancy of concrete is about 50+ years lower than that of steel. But there are a few other factors that you will want to know about when deciding between the two.
Concrete Pier Factors:
- Cheaper than steel
- Easily available
- Perfect for shallow soil
Steel Pier Factors:
- Longer lifespan
- More durable
- Better for deep soil
- No curing (Hardening) time
Steel piers have a few qualities that outshine concrete, but with these qualities come a higher cost. Talk to your foundation expert to see what product works best for your soil.
Foundation Piers And Foundation Repair In Fort Worth
We here at Discount Foundation Repair of North East Texas have well over 35 years of experience restoring foundations. We offer competitive pricing with both concrete and pressed steel piers that spare no expense in quality. Don’t allow time to make your repair more costly than it needs to be, give us a call for a free homeowners evaluation today and we promise you won’t regret it.
