RESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION SOLUTIONS
FOUNDATION SUPPORT FOR NEW HOMES AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
A home's foundation is critical. Soil and the water table dictate the type of foundation needed for the home. Helical piers are a great option for new homes and additions where soil conditions require non-traditional foundation support. Helical piers can be installed deep into the soil until stable soil is reached.
Helical piers install quickly and quietly and construction can begin immediately after installation. This translates into a time savings over other forms of foundation pilings as well as less noise and disruption to active neighborhoods and ecosystems. We offer complete engineering services, if required. If you already have plans and soil reports, we can provide an estimate based on that information.
New Homes & Additions
Helical piers are a great option for building new homes and additions where soil conditions won’t allow traditional foundation methods. Our helical piers install quickly and quietly and can be loaded immediately after installation. This translates into a time savings over other forms of piling as well as less noise and disruption to active neighborhoods and ecosystems. We can offer complete engineering services if required as well. If you already have plans and soil reports, we can provide an estimate based on that information.
Foundation Repairs and Additions
Foundation Support Systems can provide permanent solutions to settling and sagging of foundations. Our approach to foundation repair is based on first understanding why the foundation damage has occurred and then addressing those causes as part of a comprehensive strategy. Factors that can lead to foundation damage include poorly constructed footings, inadequate compaction, erosion, unstable soil conditions, poor drainage, etc. Helical piers and the Tru-Lift® bracket can remedy foundation issues after grade and drainage corrections are made. Helical piers can lift your sunken foundation back to its proper elevation and secure it.
CASE STUDY 1 – WHOLE HOUSE FOUNDATION FOR CUSTOM LAKE HOME
Location: Minnetonka, MN
The Challenge: Customer purchased a beautiful lot on Lake Minnetonka and wanted to build their dream-home near the shore, but soil conditions and the water table would not allow traditional footings or a soil correction.
The Solution: Foundation Support Systems worked with the engineer and home builder to design a solution using helical piers and grade beams instead of spread footings. Installed 113 helical piers between 40-60 feet deep to get to good soil. Construction of the dream home continued.
Customer Benefit: Without an advanced foundation system like helical piers the customer could not have built near the lake and possibly couldn’t have built on the lot at all.
Installing helical piers two at a time
for a new home foundation.
Helical piers installed and ready
to be cut to final length.
CASE STUDY 2 – NEW FRONT PORCH ADDITION
Location: Minneapolis, MN
The Challenge: Customer planned to add covered front porch to their existing home but discovered during excavation that soil conditions were unsuitable for concrete footings. The project stalled.
The Solution: Foundation Support Systems worked with the engineer to design a solution using helical piers and a grade beam instead of spread footings. Installed 4 helical piers between 30-50 feet deep to get to good soil. Construction continued.
Customer Benefit: Without an advanced foundation system like helical piers the customer would have had to abandon their construction plans altogether.
Piling installed and ready
for concrete work.
Piling installed and ready
for foundation to be poured.
HOME FOUNDATION REPAIRS
There are a number of ways to tell if a home has a failing foundation. The most common reason a home foundation sinks is due to weather and its affect on the soil.
Foundation Support Systems can provide permanent solutions to settling and sagging of foundations. Our approach to foundation repair is based on first understanding why the foundation damage has occurred and then addressing those causes as part of a comprehensive strategy. Factors that can lead to foundation damage include poorly constructed footings, inadequate compaction, erosion, unstable soil conditions, poor drainage, etc.
Helical piers and the Tru-Lift® bracket can remedy foundation issues after grade and drainage corrections are made. Helical piers can lift your sunken foundation back to its proper elevation and secure it. If your basement or retaining wall is bulging or being pushed over, our tension anchors can provide the reinforcement needed to solve the problem.
CASE STUDY 3 – FOUNDATION REPAIR OF SETTLED HOME FOUNDATION
Location: Scandia, MN
The Challenge: The hillside just below the garage foundation had settled causing window binding and drywall cracking.
The Solution: Excavation along the failed foundation and temporary support with beams and jacks allowed helical piers and underpinning brackets to be installed.
Customer Benefit: The repair has prevented further settling and given the owner peace of mind that his home is secure against further settling.
Helical pier connection in preparation for underpinning bracket.
Foundation underpinning to allow for new doorway into basement.
Foundation underpinning to allow for new doorway into basement.
Excavation in order to repair settled foundation.
Underpinning bracket installed to support existing footings.
Underpinning bracket installed to support existing footings.
CASE STUDY 4 – FOUNDATION REPAIR OF FROST-HEAVED 4-SEASON PORCH
Location: Golden Valley, MN
The Challenge: Existing 4-season porch used concrete footings in wet clay. Every winter the footings would frost heave lifting the paver patio and causing sheetrock damage and impairing the operation of patio doors and windows. After spring thaw the footings would settle back down partially, but not completely, getting progressively worse each season.
The Solution: The customer had the porch temporarily supported and the failed concrete footings removed, then Foundation Support Systems installed three new helical piers to support the porch.
Customer Benefit: The porch is now invulnerable to frost heave and the paver patio will no longer be damaged by the concrete footings pushing up out of the ground.
Failed deck and 4-season porch footings before helical pier installation.
Intact concrete post footing. Cylinder
and belled bottom still connected.
Temporary support of 4-season porch
prior to footing removal.
One footing already replaced.
Removal of paver patio to expose
failed concrete footings.
Deck and 4-season porch footings
after helical pier installation.
DECKS
Whether building a new deck or repairing an old deck you want peace of mind that it will never heave or settle and that it will perform as desired for years to come. Helical piers are the best way to gain that peace of mind.
New Deck Footings. The easiest and most economical time to provide helical piers for a deck is before it’s built (Duh!). The installation is usually a one or two-day process and framing can begin as soon as the piers are installed. Piers can be installed in summer or winter (with some preparation) and a deck built on helical piers will be immune to frost heave and settling.
Replacement of Failed Deck Footings. Many of our customers reach out to us because they already have deck footings which have failed and must be replaced. We work with an experienced contractor to shore up the deck, remove the failed footings and fill in the holes. Then we’re able to install helical piers in the same locations and put the deck posts back in place. There are certain height restrictions and issues that have to be considered when replacing failed footings so a site meeting is recommended.
CASE STUDY 5 – DECK FOOTING REPLACEMENT
Location: Centerville, MN
The Challenge: Frost heave had destroyed a large deck and stairway for the customer making it unsafe. The dilapidated deck was a liability to the property both as a dangerous condition and as a drag on the value of the home.
The Solution: The failed deck and footings were removed and helical piers were installed to support a new deck.
Customer Benefit: The customer was able to turn a negative into a positive by installing a new deck that will last for decades.
Deck with failed concrete footings
due to frost heave.
Failed concrete footing after removal.
Helical piers installed and ready
for new deck to be built.