What are push piers?

Push piers are steel foundation support posts that are hydraulically driven vertically into the ground beneath a settling foundation. A hydraulic jack applies downward force to drive a series of interlocking steel tubes through weaker surface soils until they reach stable, load-bearing soil or bedrock. Once anchored at depth, the pier transfers the building's weight directly to this stable layer, restabilizing the foundation and in many cases lifting it back to its original elevation.

In Rock County basements and crawl spaces, push piers address common foundation problems caused by soil settlement, erosion, or inadequate original support. They work well in areas with variable soil composition where bearing capacity changes with depth. Each pier is customized to the depth and soil conditions at that specific location on the building perimeter.

Push piers differ from helical piers, which use a screw-like twisted shaft twisted into the ground rather than driven straight down hydraulically. Push piers are often preferred when soil composition and load requirements call for vertical force application. Installation typically requires access to the interior or exterior of the foundation and creates minimal disruption compared to mass excavation.

If your foundation is showing signs of settlement, cracking, or uneven floors, a structural assessment from an experienced basement and foundation repair contractor can determine whether push piers or another stabilization method is right for your situation.