# What are Problems with Underpinning by Push Piers? > If you've been around the block once or twice, then you've no doubt heard the dopey adage every cloud has a silver lining. This is what I refer to as the. _Brian Dalinghaus · 2021-11-03_ --- If you've been around the block once or twice, then you've no doubt heard the dopey adage **_every cloud has a silver lining_**. This is what I refer to as the Pollyannaism-pop-champagne fallacy. I believe it would prove more beneficial, at least more utilitarian, to consider the following statement, **_every silver lining has a cloud_**, **_even push piers_**. So, true to form, in this article we will outline the shortcomings of push piers in minute detail. **_\*Authorial Note_**, Yes, we sell push piers. So, you're probably wondering, why the unflinching critique? This article is meant to examine, categorize, and analyze problems with push piers through an unbiased lens. Push piers aren't for everybody, they might not be for you. If you're perusing this post, odds are high that - Your **foundation repair specialist** has suggested push piers (and you want to know what you're getting into) In this naked exposé (call the tabloids), we're going to delve into the following push pier limitations - Push Piers have weight limitations - Push Piers are not a viable repair option for cracked and broken footings (not unless the footing is repaired prior) - Push Piers can only be installed vertically - Push Piers are "compression-fit", so they are permanent and impossible to remove So, let's dive in. ## 1\. Push Piers Have Installation Weight Limitations Don't let the simplicity of the name confuse you, brothers and sisters, push piers are indeed **_pushed into the earth via hydraulic rams_**. Push piers rely directly on the **_innate weight of the structure_** for successful, deep installation to bedrock and/or load-bearing competent soil. The push piers are attached to a **_remedial bracket_** that has been fitted to the **_manicured footing_** of your home. The hydraulic rams harness the weight of the structure to drive down the push piers. **In instances like this, the home begins to lift before the desired depth is reached, leaving you with a still unsecured, slightly lifted home.** In other words, when it comes to **_push pier_**, **_push pile_**, and **_push pin_** underpinning, the heavier the structure the better. This is why push piers are excellent at stabilizing **_second-story homes, brick/commercial buildings,_** or **_single-story homes of considerable weight_**. When a structure is too light for push pier installation, helical piers come into play as they don't rely on the weight of the home for installation. For a step-by-step walkthrough of push pier installation, read our article: **The Five Steps to Push Pier Foundation Repai** **r**. In short, **_push piers prefer portly projects._** ## 2. Push Piers Don't Work on Busted Footings Turns out, **_grip_** and **_leverage_** are prerequisites for bench pressing a cool 280 at the gym as your fellow comrade gym rats cheer you on. To be redundant: hands are helpful. **Remedial brackets are the hands of the push pier underpinning process**. And, to stick with our sweaty-protein-fueled gym analogy, their importance often goes unsung (as hands is to pecs). It's damned difficult to bench-press when there's nothing to grip. As mentioned above, remedial brackets are **L**-shaped brackets that fit your foundation's footing. If the footing is **_cracked_** or **_compromised_**, it is not safe to continue with the push pier installation. Or, as in many cases of water [**damage/spalling**](/concrete-repair/problem-signs/pitting-flaking-staining/), footings can bust out and crumble away completely. So, to follow suit, push piers have absolutely no shot in Dante's Divine Comedy at bench-pressing your home's **_80,000 pound-to-160,000-pound load_** without a remedial bracket. Remedial brackets are rendered impotent (though not from 'roids) without a solid, secure footing (our proverbial barbell). In all fairness, this seems more like a remedial bracket critique than a shortcoming of push piers; however, since they work in tandem and there's no Cheech without Chong, my criticism stands. After the footing has been appropriately repaired (if possible), then the push piers can be installed and the home can be lifted to [**maximum practical recovery**](/foundation-repair/). ## 3. Push Piers Can Only Be Installed Vertically Push piers only go in one direction and that's **_down_**. They are not the appropriate tool to anchor a retaining wall into a hillside, for example. For that, we in the industry refer to the wonderful anchoring properties of **helical piers**. **Push piers cannot be utilized at an angle or to anchor.** I realize at the outset of this article I promised a blistering commentary, but I believe the push pier's only fault here is that it's not a helical pier. ## 4. Push Piers Are Permanent Welcome to the great contradiction, permanence can sometimes be a problem (just like your Tweety Bird tattoo). The push piers are permanent because they fit together via a compression fit. The pipes utilize the weight of the home to stay fit together. In other words, there is no interlocking mechanism, just downward pressure. This is not a barrel of monkeys, there are no interlocking arms. If you tried to remove them, you'd only be able to retrieve the top piers (if that). So, once installed, there's no going back. No removal. You have to deal. Where this poses a potential issue is when it comes to additions. That rec room, man cave, or home theater you've been dreaming of could complicate things. The original piers cannot be dug up, relocated, and attached to the addition for extra support. **Remember our Mantra: Additions require additional piers.** Say it out loud. Memorize it. Get it tattooed next to Tweety in a dialogue bubble. ## Choose Dalinghaus for Your Underpinning Needs **In conclusion, push piers are not always the right fit and come with their own unique complications and limitations.** Be sure to check out our **[[silo:foundation-repair|Ultimate Foundation Repair Guide]]** for more information on push piers. **Your time is valuable and we respect that. If you choose Dalinghaus, you will receive a repair plan tailor-fit to meet your specific needs.** Dalinghaus Foundation Repair can help you address a sinking foundation with **_[[solution:foundation-repair/helical-piers|helical pier]]_**, **_[[solution:foundation-repair/push-piers|push pier]]_**, and [**_polyurethane_**](/concrete-leveling/solutions/polyurethane-foam-injection/) **_underpinning_**. We do foundation underpinning and retaining wall repair the right way. ## Schedule a Free Evaluation Foundation movement is easier to judge in person than from a photo. [Schedule a free evaluation](/contact-us/) and a Dalinghaus specialist will walk the property with you and explain what the evidence shows.