Concrete Pilings

Concrete pilings have several advantages:

• They are fast to install (concrete drilled piers take twice as long to install).
• Once they are installed, they can be used right away (concrete drilled piers must harden for a week before they can be used).
• They are cheaper than steel pilings and drilled.
• They have a proven record of performance.

The installation process is simple.

1. In each location where a piling is going to be installed, a hole is dug next to the foundation. Each hole is about the size of a doormat. The holes go down to the bottom of your foundation.
2. Next, a concrete cylinder is placed in the bottom of the hole and under the foundation.
3. A high-power hydraulic ram is then placed on top of the cylinder. The ram sits on the cylinder and the top of the ram touches
   the bottom of the foundation.
4. The ram is activated and used to push the cylinder down into the soil. The pressure applied to the cylinder will often exceed 50,000 pounds of pressure.
5. Once a cylinder is driven into the ground, another cylinder is set on top of the first cylinder.
6. The two steel bars are then cemented into place.
7. The second cylinder is the pushed into the ground, driving the first cylinder before it.
8. The process is repeated until no more cylinders can be driven.
9. Finally, a cap is placed on the top of the column and two concrete cylinders are placed on top of the cap.
10. When all of the cylinders are driven, hydraulic jacks are placed on the caps and are used to lift the foundation.
11. Once the foundation is lifted, steel and concrete spacers are placed on the cap to support the foundation, and the hydraulic jacks are removed.
12. The final step is to cover the pilings and clean up.

Concrete piers can be installed by cutting holes in your floor, digging down beside the interior grade beams, and then pressing piers to refusal.

An alternative is to dig tunnels under your home and install the pilings from the tunnels. If tunnels are used to install interior pilings, you can stay in your home while the work is being done and your floors will not have holes cut in them!

The installation process is simple.

1. In each location where a pier is going to be installed, a hole is drilled down to the target depth, generally between 12 and 20 feet below the surface of your slab. Each hole is typically 12 inches in diameter. The holes go down the depth specified by the report.
2. Next, a set of reinforcing steel bars are tied together and lowered into the hole.
3. The concrete is allowed to cure or harden for 7 days.
4. When all of the piers are hardened, hydraulic jacks are placed on the piers and are then used to lift your foundation.
5. Once your foundation is lifted, steel and concrete spacers are placed on the piers to support your foundation, and the hydraulic jacks are removed.
6. The final step is to cover the piers and clean up.