Pier Systems & Foundation Lifting
Permanent foundation stabilization with engineered pier systems. Stop settling and restore your foundation to level.
Foundation Pier Installation in the Finger Lakes
When your foundation is settling or sinking, pier systems provide a permanent solution by transferring your home's weight from unstable surface soil to load-bearing strata deep below. Finger Lakes Foundation Repair installs helical piers, push piers, and slab piers throughout the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Our engineered pier systems can not only stop settlement but often lift your foundation back toward its original position. Each installation is designed specifically for your home's weight, soil conditions, and required depth to ensure lasting stability.
Signs Your Foundation Needs Pier Support
Foundation settlement happens when the soil beneath your home can't support its weight. Recognizing these warning signs early can prevent extensive damage.
Sinking Foundation
Visible settling on one side or corner of your home, uneven floors, or gaps between the foundation and framing.
Sticking Doors & Windows
Doors and windows that suddenly become difficult to open or close, or visible gaps around frames.
Stair-Step Cracks
Diagonal or stair-step cracks in brick, block, or stone foundations that indicate differential settlement.
Chimney Separation
Chimney pulling away from the house or leaning, often accompanied by gaps in exterior mortar joints.
Wall & Ceiling Cracks
Cracks radiating from door and window corners, or horizontal cracks along walls inside your home.
Porch Separation
Porches, stoops, or additions pulling away from the main structure as they settle independently.
Why Foundations Settle in the Finger Lakes
Understanding the cause of your settlement helps determine the best pier solution for your specific situation.
Weak or Poorly Compacted Fill
When homes are built on improperly compacted fill soil, the soil gradually compresses under the foundation's weight over time, causing settlement. This is common in developments where excavated soil was used as backfill.
Soil Shrinkage (Drought)
Extended dry periods cause clay soils to shrink and pull away from foundations. This creates voids beneath the foundation, leading to settlement when the soil can no longer support the weight.
Soil Washout & Erosion
Poor drainage or underground water flow can wash away soil particles from beneath your foundation. Over time, this erosion creates voids that cause sections of the foundation to sink.
Soft Native Soils
Some areas of the Finger Lakes region have naturally soft or organic soils that were not suitable for construction. These soils compress over time, especially as moisture levels change seasonally.
Our Foundation Pier Solutions
We offer multiple pier systems to address different foundation types, soil conditions, and structural requirements.
Push Piers (Resistance Piers)
Push piers are steel tubes hydraulically driven through the foundation footing until they reach stable soil or bedrock. Using the weight of your home as resistance, these piers can reach extreme depths when necessary—often 50 feet or more.
Once installed, synchronized hydraulic jacks lift your foundation back toward its original position. Push piers are ideal for heavier structures and situations requiring deep soil penetration.
- Can reach depths of 100+ feet
- Ideal for homes with heavier loads
- Proven technology used for decades
- Load tested during installation
Best For:
- • Existing home foundations
- • Significant settlement
- • Deep load-bearing soil
- • Two-story & heavier homes
- • Foundation lifting needed
Helical Piers (Screw Piles)
Helical piers feature spiral steel plates welded to a central shaft. They're mechanically screwed into the ground like a giant screw until they reach load-bearing soil. The helical plates provide exceptional holding power and resistance to both compression and tension.
Installation requires no excavation—just a small access hole. This makes helical piers ideal for interior applications, limited access areas, and new construction where immediate loading is needed.
- Minimal excavation required
- Works in limited access areas
- Immediate load capacity after install
- Resists both push and pull forces
Best For:
- • New construction
- • Lighter structures
- • Porches & additions
- • Interior floor support
- • Limited access sites
Slab Piers
Slab piers are specifically designed for homes built on concrete slab foundations. A small hole is cored through the interior floor slab, and piers are installed directly beneath the foundation without disturbing the exterior of your home.
Once the piers reach stable soil, brackets are attached and hydraulic jacks lift the slab back toward level. The core hole is then patched, leaving minimal evidence of the repair.
- Designed for slab-on-grade homes
- Interior access—no exterior excavation
- Can lift settled slabs
- Minimal disruption to living space
Best For:
- • Slab-on-grade foundations
- • Settled concrete floors
- • Interior settlement
- • When exterior access is limited
- • Year-round installation
Our Pier Installation Process
Every pier installation follows a systematic process to ensure proper placement, adequate depth, and verified load capacity.
Foundation Assessment
We evaluate your foundation, measure settlement, and analyze soil conditions to determine the number and placement of piers needed.
Excavation & Prep
Small excavations are made at each pier location to access the foundation footing. For helical piers, minimal excavation is needed.
Pier Installation
Piers are driven or screwed until they reach stable, load-bearing soil. Each pier is load-tested to verify it can support the required weight.
Lift & Stabilize
Synchronized hydraulic jacks lift the foundation toward its original position. Brackets lock the foundation to the piers permanently.
Foundation Pier Investment
Pier installation costs vary based on the number of piers required, pier type, depth needed, and accessibility. Here's what influences your investment:
Cost Factors
- •Number of piers needed (based on foundation length and load)
- •Pier type (push, helical, or slab)
- •Depth to reach load-bearing soil
- •Site accessibility and excavation needs
- •Amount of foundation lifting required
What's Included
- Free foundation inspection and quote
- Engineered pier system and hardware
- Professional installation by trained crews
- Foundation lifting (when applicable)
- Transferable lifetime warranty
Every foundation is different. Contact us for a free inspection and detailed quote specific to your home's needs.
Get Your Free EstimateRelated Foundation Services
Pier installation often works alongside other services to provide complete foundation protection.
Foundation Repair
Comprehensive structural repairs including crack repair, wall stabilization, and waterproofing for complete foundation restoration.
Bowing Wall Repair
Helical tiebacks and wall anchors to stabilize bowing or leaning foundation walls caused by soil pressure.
Concrete Leveling
Polyurethane foam injection to lift and level settled concrete slabs including driveways, patios, and garage floors.
Pier Systems FAQ
Common questions about foundation pier installation and how it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Fix Your Foundation?
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