What Are Concrete Piers?
Concrete piers are one of the oldest and most proven methods of foundation underpinning. When soil beneath a foundation compresses, erodes, washes out, or was never properly compacted to begin with, the foundation settles unevenly and the structure above begins to show the signs: sticking doors, diagonal wall cracks, sloping floors, and gaps at windows. APS Foundation Repair and Waterproofing has been restoring Alabama foundations since 1977 using concrete pier underpinning on homes and light commercial buildings across Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Columbus, GA. Precast concrete piers are manufactured to consistent compressive strength specifications and driven or pressed into the ground in segmental sections until resistance from stable bearing soil is achieved. Poured concrete piers involve drilling a shaft to depth and placing concrete in place, appropriate for specific site conditions. APS will evaluate your foundation and recommend whether concrete piers, steel push piers, helical piers, or a combination is the right approach for your soil type and structure.
How Concrete Piers Work
Concrete pier segments are placed directly beneath excavated areas under your foundation's footing. Using a hydraulic ram braced against the weight of the structure, pier sections are advanced one at a time, each new section added on top of the previous, until the pier reaches soil with sufficient bearing capacity to resist further advancement. At that point, the pier is verified at load-bearing depth and the foundation is lifted and leveled to the extent the structure safely allows. Steel brackets transfer the foundation load to the pier permanently. Excavations are then backfilled and the work area restored.
“Concrete piers have underpinned foundations for generations because the physics are simple: get the load onto soil that is not going to move. The key is reaching the right bearing layer, not just going to a standard depth. Every Alabama soil profile is different, and we treat them that way.”
How APS Installs Concrete Piers
- 1
Free Foundation Assessment
An APS specialist visits your property to document settlement, measure floor elevations, inspect the foundation and structural components, and review soil conditions to recommend the right pier type and spacing.
- 2
Excavation at Pier Locations
Crews hand-dig or use small equipment to excavate down to the footing at each pier location according to the engineered pier layout plan.
- 3
Bracket Installation
A steel underpinning bracket is positioned beneath the footing. This bracket accepts the pier sections and transfers load from the footing to the pier.
- 4
Pier Section Advancement
Concrete pier sections are hydraulically pressed into the ground one at a time, adding sections as each advances, until the assembly reaches load-bearing soil or bedrock.
- 5
Load Transfer and Leveling
Once all piers at a location reach bearing depth, hydraulic jacks simultaneously lift the foundation to recover settlement as safely as the structure allows, then the load is transferred permanently to the piers.
- 6
Backfill and Site Restoration
Excavations are backfilled with compacted soil. Concrete flatwork, plantings, or finished surfaces disturbed during the process are restored to pre-work condition.
What Concrete Piers Cost and What Is Covered
Cost Range
$1,200 to $2,800 per pier
Warranty
Manufacturer warranty on pier components plus APS in-house workmanship warranty, transferable to subsequent homeowners
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between concrete piers and steel push piers?
Both methods underpin the foundation by reaching stable bearing soil, but they use different materials and installation techniques. Concrete piers use precast or poured segments that rely on skin friction and end bearing in dense soils. Steel push piers are tubular steel sections driven to bearing or bedrock and are generally preferred in areas with deep or inconsistent bearing layers. APS offers both and will recommend the right solution for your specific conditions.
How deep do concrete piers go?
Pier depth depends entirely on where stable bearing soil is found. In Alabama's varied geology, this can range from 10 to 30 or more feet. Piers are advanced until hydraulic resistance confirms adequate bearing capacity, not to a predetermined depth.
Will the repair fix all of my foundation cracks?
Pier installation stops ongoing settlement and can recover some of the original floor elevation. Pre-existing cracks in walls and floors may be partially closed by the leveling process, but cosmetic crack repair is typically handled as a separate step after the foundation is stable.
How disruptive is the installation?
Most residential concrete pier installations are completed in one to two days. Interior access is not always required. Landscaping near the foundation may need temporary removal, and some noise and vibration are associated with hydraulic driving equipment.
Is my home livable during the repair?
In most cases, yes. Residents are not required to vacate during concrete pier installation. Your APS project coordinator will walk you through what to expect on installation day.