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Should You Buy a House With Foundation Piers?

Table of Contents


1. What Are Foundation Piers and What Does It Mean When a House Has Them?
2. What Causes Foundation Problems?
3. Buying a House With Foundation Piers – What You Need To Know
4. When to Walk Away From Buying a House With Foundation Piers
5. How Do I Know If a House Has Foundation Piers?
6. How Long Does Foundation Repair Last?
7. Remember, Always Get a Foundation Inspection Before You Sign Anything

Are you thinking about buying a house with foundation piers? If so, this article has all the information you need. We’re going to talk about what foundation piers are, what it means when a house has them, what you need to know about buying a house with foundation piers, and more.

What Are Foundation Piers?

Pier being installed on foundation footing

Heavy-duty steel piers stabilize and strengthen a foundation. Builders sometimes install them during construction, such as using helical piers when a new structure needs a deep foundation.

They also use foundation piers to stabilize homes experiencing “differential settlement.” After construction, all homes settle into the soil a little bit, so piers are often necessary.

There are different types of foundation piers, including resistance push piers, helical piers, slab piers, and drilled concrete piers. All of them help strengthen and stabilize foundations.

What Does It Mean When a House Has Them?

If a house has foundation piers installed, it’s usually because the foundation was experiencing differential settlement. The question is, what caused the differential settlement? It would be good to know if you’re thinking about buying the house.

What Causes Foundation Problems?

Believe it or not, most foundation problems are caused by water. If the soil has either too much or not enough water in it, you’ll end up with foundation trouble. Here are a few ways this can happen:

  • The home was built on expansive soil – Expansive soil is soil with a lot of clay. It swells when it soaks up water and then shrinks when it dries out. This swelling-shrinking cycle is usually seasonal, and over time it puts considerable stress on the foundation and leads to differential settlement.
  • There are drainage problems around the home – Drainage around the home is essential. Poor drainage contributes to a variety of foundation problems. For example, if the yard around a home with a basement slopes toward the foundation, water will drain toward the foundation, saturating the soil outside the basement walls. This causes hydrostatic pressure to build up. Hydrostatic pressure pushing against a basement wall is enough to cause the wall to bow inward and even crack. 
  • Builders didn’t compact the soil enough before construction began – Before starting construction, they need to properly compact the soil under the foundation. If they skip this step, the soil may compact after building the house, causing movement beneath the house and leading to foundation problems.
  • When the weather changes after construction, the soil may swell or shrink. If you build a home on expansive soil during the dry season, the soil will swell during the wet season, causing movement and foundation problems. The opposite can also happen.
  • Flooding, even slow-moving floodwater is strong enough to shift a foundation.

Of course, foundation problems can be caused by things unrelated to water, including:

  • Extensive digging next to the foundation – The easiest way to understand how this could cause foundation trouble is to imagine what would happen if you dig a hole in your yard too close to a lawn chair. Eventually, the soil under the lawn chair will be destabilized to the point where the lawn chair falls into the hole. Even though your home is unlikely to collapse if your neighbor starts digging next to it, the digging could destabilize your foundation.
  • Earthquakes – This one is probably self-explanatory. Any ground movement has the potential to cause foundation problems.

For more information, see Foundation Settlement.

Should You Buy a House With Foundation Piers?

The need for foundation piers doesn’t necessarily mean the builder made a mistake. Even well-built homes can face foundation problems for many reasons. When professionals install foundation piers correctly, they usually ensure the home won’t need another repair, as these repairs typically last for the home’s lifetime.

The problem that led to installing the piers has now been fixed. However, the above doesn’t mean you should rush into buying a house with foundation piers. Consider the following before signing on the dotted line:

  • Did the repair come with a transferable warranty? If yes, is there a fee to transfer the warranty?
  • Is the company that installed the foundation piers still in business? Are they likely to remain in business? Remember, the warranty is only as good as the company offering it. If the company goes out of business, there goes your warranty.

Never buy a home – with or without foundation piers – before asking a qualified professional you trust to inspect it first. This might be a foundation repair contractor or a structural engineer. The choice is up to you. Just make sure someone looks at the house before you sign anything.

For more information, see, Buying A House With Foundation Issues: Read This Before You Sign

When to Walk Away From Buying a House With Foundation Piers

It’s time to walk away from buying a house with foundation piers when…

  • The repair is no longer under warranty.
  • The warranty is not transferable to the home’s new owner.
  • The foundation repair company that installed the piers is no longer in business.
  • A qualified professional says the home still has a foundation problem.

How Do I Know If a House Has Foundation Piers?

There are two ways to know if a house you’re thinking of buying has foundation piers:

  1. Ask the seller.
  2. Ask a professional – foundation repair contractor or a structural engineer – to inspect the house. They will know if there have been any repairs.

How Long Does Foundation Repair Last?

Fixing a foundation with piers makes sure it stays strong for the entire life of the building. Piers are made from tough materials like steel or concrete, and they are put deep into the ground where the soil is stable. This helps them support the building for a long time.

The piers won’t rust, spread the weight of the building evenly, and are installed by experts to make sure they do their job well. If done right, your foundation will stay solid for many years.

Remember, Always Get a Foundation Inspection Before You Sign Anything

If you take away just one thing from this article, let it be this: Never sign anything without first having the home inspected by a qualified professional (foundation repair contractor or structural engineer). 

If you’re considering buying a house with foundation piers in our service area in Northern California and want us to inspect it, contact us today.

FAQs

The installation time varies depending on the severity of the foundation issues, the type of piers used, and the number installed. Generally, it takes a few days to a week for installation. Consult Bay Area Underpinning (BAU) for tailored solutions and a detailed timeline.

The cost is determined by several factors, including the level of damage and the repair solutions implemented. For a precise quote, get in touch with Bay Area Underpinning. We offer free inspections and estimates, straightforward pricing, and various financing options

Typically, homeowners’ insurance does not cover foundation repairs unless the damage is the result of a covered peril, such as a plumbing leak or damage from a natural disaster. Check with your provider for details. 

Related Resources

Ted Dryce

Ted Dryce

Content Writer

Ted is an SEO Content Writer who has been with Groundworks since 2021. He’s covered home repair topics ranging from crawl space encapsulation to regional soil conditions. When he’s not working, Ted is performing improv comedy and working on his own creative projects.

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