How much does pier installation cost?

Steel push piers: $1,000–$2,000 per pier. Helical piers: $1,200–$2,500 per pier. A 10-pier job: $12,000–$20,000. Full perimeter for a large home with significant settlement can exceed $30,000.

How long does pier installation take?

5–15 piers per day. Most residential jobs complete in 1–3 days. You can typically remain in your home, though noise and excavation are significant.

Will installation crack my interior walls?

Some drywall damage is possible during lifting. Most contractors note this risk in contracts and advise drywall repair after (not before) installation. Lifting is done in small increments to minimize interior damage.

Many jurisdictions require permits for structural foundation work. Ask whether your contractor will pull a permit, and verify with your local building department. Unpermitted structural work creates problems at home sale.

Foundation Pier Installation — Find Trusted Foundation Repair Professionals

What Is Foundation Pier Installation?

Pier systems are the most common repair for foundation settlement — driven to stable soil below the active movement zone to stabilize and potentially lift a settling foundation.

Types of Piers

Steel push piers: hydraulically pushed to load-bearing soil or bedrock — can lift the foundation. Helical piers: screwed into the ground — faster, tighter spaces, lighter loads. Concrete pilings: poured-in-place or precast, common in Gulf Coast. Drilled caissons: wider diameter, bear on bedrock or stiff clay, common in Southwest.

How Installation Works

Excavation at each pier location. Piers advanced to target depth. Steel brackets placed under foundation beam. Hydraulic jacks simultaneously lift the foundation — 50–80% settlement recovery typical. Jacks lowered to transfer load to piers, excavations backfilled. Most jobs complete in 1–3 days.

How Many Piers

Pier count depends on load and pier capacity. Most residential repairs require 8–20 piers at 6–8 foot spacing. Structural engineers or experienced contractors calculate required count for your specific structure.

Warranties

Reputable companies offer transferable lifetime warranties. Read carefully: what's covered, what voids it, and whether it's genuinely transferable to future buyers — this matters at home sale.

What to Look for in a Foundation Repair Provider

State general contractor or structural specialty license
Foundation-specific experience — not a general contractor moonlighting in foundation work
Structural engineer involvement or referral for complex cases
Transferable lifetime warranty on pier systems (standard in the industry)
Multiple approaches quoted — not a company that only sells one solution
References from jobs completed in your city in the last 2 years

Professional Foundation Pier Installation