Helical Piers vs. Push Piers: Which Foundation Fix Is Right?

Both helical piers and push piers are permanent underpinning solutions for foundation settlement, but they work differently and are better suited to different situations. Understanding the distinction helps you evaluate contractor recommendations and ask the right questions before committing to a repair that can cost $15,000 or more.

How Helical Piers Work

Helical piers (also called helical piles or screw piles) are steel shafts with one or more helical plates — like large screws — attached at the bottom end. They are installed by rotating the shaft into the ground using a hydraulic drive head attached to an excavator or compact machine.

As the pier is screwed in, the helical plates cut through the soil without displacing it, pulling the shaft deeper with each rotation. Installation continues until the plates reach load-bearing soil or bedrock, confirmed by monitoring the installation torque. Higher torque corresponds to denser, stronger soil.

Once the pier is at depth, a steel bracket is attached to the foundation footing, and the structure’s weight is transferred from the failing soil to the pier. In some cases, hydraulic lifting equipment can raise the foundation back toward its original elevation before the bracket is locked in place.

Key characteristics:

• Can be installed under light loads (new construction, lightweight additions)
• Does not rely on the structure’s weight to achieve depth
• Works in a wide variety of soil conditions
• Can be installed in tight spaces with compact equipment
• Immediately load-bearing after installation

How Push Piers Work

Push piers (also called resistance piers or steel piers) are hollow steel pipe sections driven into the ground by hydraulic force. The piston uses the weight of the structure above as the reaction force, pushing the pier sections downward until they encounter sufficient resistance in deep soil or bedrock.

Once the pier reaches competent bearing material, a bracket is connected to the foundation footing and the system is used to hydraulically lift the foundation before being locked at the final elevation.

Key characteristics:

• Requires sufficient dead load from the structure to achieve installation depth (typically 20,000+ lbs per pier location)
• Generally faster installation than helical piers — no torque monitoring needed
• Well-suited for heavily loaded residential and commercial structures
• Can achieve deeper installation depths in soft, layered soils
• Steel sections are added incrementally as driving proceeds

Cost Comparison Per Pier

Pier Type	Installed Cost Per Pier	Typical Residential Project
Helical pier	$1,500–$3,500	$12,000–$35,000 (8-10 piers)
Push pier	$1,000–$3,000	$10,000–$25,000 (8-10 piers)

Push piers are generally $500-$1,000 per pier less expensive than helical piers. The gap narrows on smaller jobs and widens when soil conditions require helical piers in locations where push piers would struggle.

What drives cost:

• Depth to bearing material (deeper = more pier sections = higher cost)
• Local labor rates
• Accessibility (tight crawl spaces, finished basements, or difficult exterior access add cost)
• Number of piers required
• Whether lifting is attempted or just stabilization

When to Use Each Type

Use Helical Piers When:

The structure is lightweight. If there isn’t enough dead load to drive a push pier — say, a porch, garage slab, lightweight addition, or new construction foundation — helical piers are the right choice. You’re using machine torque, not structure weight.

Soil conditions are difficult. Helical piers perform well in cohesive soils (clay), soft soils, and situations where the contractor cannot be certain of continuous resistance during push pier driving. The torque monitoring provides real-time feedback about soil density.

Interior access is restricted. Compact helical installation equipment can fit through a standard doorway and work in crawl spaces. This makes helical piers the practical choice for interior slab underpinning where an excavator can’t reach.

You’re doing new construction preventive installation. Helical piers can be installed before a foundation is poured to pre-load bearing in known problem soils.

Timing. Helical piers can be installed in adverse weather and wet conditions where push pier installation might be difficult.

Use Push Piers When:

The structure is heavily loaded. For a two-story home, commercial building, or any structure with substantial dead load, push piers are often the cost-effective choice. The structure’s weight does the installation work.

Soil is deep and soft. Push piers can be driven through softer overburden soils to reach bedrock at depths where helical pier torque requirements become impractical.

Large numbers of piers are needed. On jobs with 10 or more pier locations, push piers are typically faster to install than helical piers, reducing labor cost.

You want maximum lift potential. Some engineers prefer push piers for heavy lifting because the system can generate very high lifting force.

Installation Time and Disruption

Helical pier installation: 1-3 days for a typical residential job (6-10 piers). Crew of 2-3. Compact equipment. Exterior excavation is small (typically 2-3 feet deep to expose the footing bracket location). Interior helical work requires minimal trenching.

Push pier installation: 1-2 days for a similar job. Typically faster per pier because there is no torque monitoring. Similar crew size and exterior excavation requirements.

Both methods require excavating to expose the foundation footing at each pier location. This disturbs landscaping and may require concrete removal. Ask your contractor specifically what will be excavated and whether they restore the disturbed areas.

Interior disruption: If piers are installed from inside (under a crawl space or basement slab), expect more interior disruption, including possible floor jackhammering for slab-mounted brackets.

Questions to Ask Your Contractor

• Why are you recommending this pier type for my specific situation?
• What depth are you targeting, and how do you confirm you’ve reached bearing?
• How many piers are in the estimate, and can you show me the layout?
• Will you attempt to lift the foundation, or just stabilize it?
• What’s the warranty, and is it transferable?
• Are these piers designed by an engineer, or is this a standard installation?

For any project over $15,000, getting an independent structural engineer to review the contractor’s design plan is a worthwhile investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are helical piers or push piers more permanent? Both are considered permanent solutions. Properly installed and warranted pier systems are designed to outlast the structure. The pier material (galvanized or coated steel) resists corrosion in most soil conditions.

Can piers lift my house back to level? In many cases, yes — partially. Full restoration to original elevation is not always achievable, especially when beams, joists, or interior finishes have already adjusted to the settled position. Contractors typically aim to stop movement and achieve partial lift.

Do piers work under a concrete slab? Yes. Piers can be installed through a concrete slab from the interior. This requires coring or sawcutting the slab at each pier location, installing the pier and bracket, then patching the slab. It is more disruptive but avoids exterior excavation in inaccessible areas.

How many piers does a typical job need? A rule of thumb is one pier per 6-8 linear feet of settling foundation. The actual number depends on the structure’s weight, the severity of the settlement, and the design by your contractor or engineer.

What if the piers don’t reach bedrock? In areas without shallow bedrock, piers are terminated in dense, competent soil confirmed by torque (helical) or refusal resistance (push). A competent contractor will know the local geological conditions and design accordingly.