951-221-5882
Piers & Beams Installation Services in Moreno Valley, California
Foundation piers are structural supports that are made of concrete and are designed to support the foundation, or superstructure of a building. A foundation piers' design often resembles a spindly branch with two long, flexible arms on either end. The arms are typically made of wood, although other materials such as steel, aluminum, iron, concrete, or stone may be used. These arms of the foundation piers are usually located at the corners of the building or other structures at the corners. When a structure is considered to have sufficient support for its surroundings (which is often a high degree of structural stability), the foundation piers are considered to be sufficient and do not need any additional support.
However, even when structures are considered to be adequate, certain conditions can still prevent the foundation piers from performing their required tasks. For example, under normal circumstances, there is usually no significant change in temperature throughout the year, especially during winter. In this case, the coldness at the corners of the structure will prevent the concrete piers from expanding and contract as they should, thereby causing cracks in the structural supports.
When this occurs, cracks will eventually widen, move out of the frame of the structure, and begin to pose a danger to people walking around the outside of the building. If not caught in time, these cracks can cause major damage to a foundation piers installation. In addition, cracks in the concrete piers can expand inward and create an interior space that is unoccupied by any sort of supporting structure (such as joists). The result can be the collapse of the concrete piers or other structural supports at the junctures where the cracks and spaces open. Even though this can result in massive structural damage, it is not likely to cause significant structural damage to buildings that have not been significantly damaged by natural calamities. The only risk associated with foundation piers that cannot be prevented is the ones that develop after a structure has already been built.
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How Do You Install Foundation Piers?
When building a new structure, it is common to install the concrete foundation piers before laying the footing. However, many home and business owners make the mistake of installing the piers too early. This mistake can result in the foundation becoming misaligned or in a state of disrepair, which will require foundation repair or foundation piers to remedy the situation.
If the interior foundation pier installation, Moreno Valley, CA was done too early, the contractor may place the exterior foundation piers in an improper location. For example, if the pilings were installed too high, the soil under the pilings will begin to erode, causing the pilings to break off and fall off. In some cases, the contractor may install the exterior foundation piers too low, which will force the soil to begin to bulge outward. No one wants to discover this problem after construction has begun, so it is critical that foundation experts ensure that these pilings are set at the proper level.
If you choose to hire a contractor to perform your exterior foundation piers, he/she should first inspect the site to determine the exact location of each pier. Most contractors begin with the interior piers. After determining the location, they will then determine the best place to position the exterior foundation piers. They may want to position the piers higher, in order to help support the weight of the house or building structure. On the other hand, they may want to locate the piers lower, in order to alleviate any pressure on the foundation walls.
Many people are initially confused by the term "helical piers." Helical piers are a cross-shaped piece of reinforcement that is placed inside the ground. It is commonly used to support roads, sewers, ditches, etc. The term "helical" was actually coined from helical curves on the cross-section of the piers. These curves are typically perpendicular to the surface they are covering but can be turned 90 degrees to the ground for use in underground utilities.
In addition to being commonly used to support structures, interior foundation piers are also commonly used as outdoor play areas and patios. You may even see them as an addition to a garden shed. In fact, many people like to build their own outdoor playgrounds using their exterior foundation piers. Of course, you can always hire a contractor to do this for you, if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. Get in touch with us today, so we can help solve the problem!