Cost is the single major contributing factor when considering an underpinning repair project. And, when going over your foundation repair plan, some of the line items might sound like a foreign language or speaking in tongues.
Underpinning a home is a unique, specialized procedure with numerous industry-specific terms you’ve probably never heard before, such as push piers.
We’ve all heard that time-worn expression: you get what you pay for.
Which begs the question, if you don’t know what a push pier is, how do you know you’re getting what you pay for?
This blog post is going to cover:
- What exactly is a push pier?
- What is the cost per pier?
- What is the cost of a push pier underpinning project?
*Note – also check out our article How Long Does Underpinning Take (Push Piers & Helical Piers)
What is an Underpinning Push Pier?
A Push Pier is a steel pipe utilized in foundation repair that is hydraulically driven into competent, load-bearing soil and anchored to a foundation’s prepped footing via a remedial bracket to secure, stabilize and/or lift the structure.
Push Piers are like underground stilts that help secure your home against expansive soil and further foundation settlement. They can help stabilize, lift, and secure.
Push Piers have many different names: piles, pin piles and push piles.
There are many names that refer to this type of foundation repair, product, and process, but the moniker doesn’t change the function.
The ultimate goal being to stabilize a house or lift it back to maximum practical recovery.
Push Piers are:
- Comprised of galvanized steel to impede rust/oxidization
- Constructed with a maximum load capacity of 68 thousand pounds
- In sizes ranging from 2-7/8”, 3.5” and 4.5” (and are measured by the diameter of the pipe)
- Generally pushed down to a depth of 25 to 30 feet
- Comprised of three main components: Remedial Bracket, Starter, & Extensions
Push piers prove an industry favorite for underpinning due to their simple installation process. They work beautifully for second-story homes, and heavy single-story homes – though some single-story homes prove too light to drive push piers down to the appropriate load-bearing capacity depth.
Check out our article: The 5 Steps to Push Pier Foundation Repair.
Another common question we receive is: how long do push piers last?
We like to joke that someday push piers will be dug with dinosaur bones. In other words, they last a long time. They last so long we offer a lifetime warranty. And, no, not for your lifetime – for the lifetime of the structure.
What is the Push Pier Cost Per Pier for Underpinning?
This is kind of a trick question because companies rarely, if ever, charge per pier. They don’t charge for every piece of steel used – they charge per pier location.
Each individual push pier location costs an average of $2,000 to $3,000 in Southern California and Arizona.
These prices may even be steeper depending on your state due to the increase in steel prices and the current transportation fiasco due to COVID-19.
Here at Dalinghaus Construction Inc. the $2,000 to $3,000 per pier location price comes with no depth clause – meaning we will install the pier system to whatever depth is required to achieve the necessary capacity of the pier.
There is an option to pay per pier with a depth clause after 21 feet of installed material.
But we charge $35 per foot of installed material after the 21 feet. That adds up quickly and can prove steep (which is why we often don’t offer this particular option).
Choosing to have a push pier project with a depth clause is like gambling unless you know the target depth from a geotechnical report.
Yes, you get a cheaper price upfront which looks great, but the minute the piers start to go beyond the 21-foot mark it will start to add up in a hurry.
We suggest you always go with the no depth clause option to avoid stress and change orders.
What is the Cost of a Push Pier Underpinning Project?
The average push pier underpinning cost comes out to be $24,000 to $60,000.
This range encompasses everything:
- Foundation Repair Inspection
- Engineering
- Permitting
- Material
- Labor
- Warranty
Choose Dalinghaus for Your Underpinning Needs
Be sure to check out our Ultimate Foundation Repair Guide.
Here at Dalinghaus Construction, Inc.: we respect your time. We tailor-fit your foundation repair plan to meet your unique needs.
Dalinghaus Construction Inc. can help you fix your sinking foundation once and for all with helical pier, push pier, and polyurethane underpinning.
We do foundation underpinning and retaining wall repair the right way. With over 100 years of combined experience and 4.9 stars out of over 300 reviews – we are here to ensure that you never settle.
If you live in SoCal or Arizona and would like a FREE crack inspection, click the link below –
