One of the most common problems we help fix is foundation settlement — the downward movement of your home because of unstable soil.
This is usually caused by volumetric shrinkage of the soil mass or soil consolidation, migration, or erosion. It typically occurs in areas with expansive clay and dry conditions that extend into long periods of drought with excessive heat, or high winds. Large trees or heavy foliage can also pull moisture from the soil and cause the soil to dehydrate and shrink in volume.
So how do you fix this problem?
Answer: Deep Foundation Support.
And when it comes to installing foundation support, Power Lift’s vast experience and deep engineered steel pile systems are unrivaled in performance and benefits.
Our industry-leading line of driven and helical steel pile foundation support products are installed deep, meaning they’re able to reach rock or a suitable bearing stratum that will provide long term, permanent support for your home’s foundation.
Unlike competitors that use cheap, shallow concrete piers, or inferior thin wall steel piers, Power Lift routinely drives piles 30’ deep or more to reach rock or permanent bearing strata.
These competitors push short 1’ concrete cylinder or 3’ steel sections usually to a depth of 4’ to 8’. At this depth, their piers will certainly fail because they are not deep enough. The 6” diameter of a concrete cylinder builds too much friction to allow them to reach suitable depths. As well, inferior thin wall steel will not withstand the required driving force to penetrate tough soils and reach a stable bearing stratum.
Power Lift’s highly engineered and patented hydraulic system drives long sections of steel tube through our steel foundation support brackets. Our steel sections are typically 6’-8’ and are often much longer. Our patented system uses high capacity hydraulic cylinders to smoothly drive the pile sections to the proper depth.
The piles capacity is continuously monitored during installation ensuring we achieve an engineered factor of safety of 2-3:1 between total load support capacity and the actual load being supported.
On certain homes we may recommend the use of our engineered Power Torque helical steel piles. Helical piles achieve load capacity from their helical blades. These piles are advanced or driven using a high torque motor which turns or screws the pile down into the earth.
As the helical piles are installed, long steel extension sections are added until the piles reach an adequate depth and capacity. And just like our driven piles, Power Lift’s Power Torque helical steel piles are engineered and designed for long term performance. Once installed to a suitable depth and capacity they will provide the long term permanent support your home needs.
Whether driven or helical steel piles are utilized, after all piles have been installed, Power Lift’s unified lifting system will be set in place at all pile locations. Using the elevation data obtained, the foundation will be raised gradually and uniformly just as the foundation moved when settlement occurred.
Structures almost never settle the same amount at all points, so as Power Lift’s foreman raises the structure, he continually monitors the elevation at each pile. As a pile reaches the desired amount of lift, the piles lift system will be terminated so it does not raise the foundation any higher.
This process continues until the lowest point reaches the target grade. Once the structure reaches the target elevation at all pile locations, the piles are permanently secured to the foundation support brackets in the elevated position ending the lifting process.
By raising your home using Power Lift’s synchronized lifting system we are able to offer the greatest restoration from lifting. And, unlike workers using bottle jacks and unevenly raising your home, Power Lift’s synchronized system does not cause unnecessary cracking or additional damage.
By investing in Power Lift, you can rest assured that your home will be permanently supported by Power Lift’s deep driven or helical steel piles and that our unified lifting system will return your home to as close to its original elevation as possible. Best of all, once corrected, your home will be held at that position for well into the future.
