What are foundation piers?
Concrete pressed vs steel piers — how they lift and stabilize a foundation.
By The T.A.P. Team · May 2024 · 5 min read
Foundation piers are the supports that foundation repair is built on: cylinders or segments driven deep into the ground until they reach stable soil, then used to lift and hold up the parts of a foundation that have settled. The two main types are concrete pressed piers and steel piers, and which is right depends on your home and soil. Here's how piers work and how the two types compare.
- Piers reach past the moving clay to stable soil
- They lift settled areas back toward level
- Concrete pressed piers: common, cost-effective
- Steel piers: driven deeper, for certain conditions
- A good repair carries a transferable warranty
How piers work
The problem with our foundations is that the upper layer of expansive clay moves with moisture. Piers solve that by transferring the home's weight down past that moving layer to deeper, stable soil that doesn't shift. During the repair, hydraulic equipment lifts the settled foundation back toward level, and the piers hold it there permanently. It's the standard, engineered fix for a settling slab.
Concrete pressed piers
Concrete pressed piers are made of cylindrical concrete segments pressed into the ground using the weight of the house itself. They're the common, cost-effective choice for many North Texas homes, reaching reliable depth in our soils. For a lot of typical residential settling, they're the workhorse solution.
Steel piers
Steel piers use steel pipe driven deeper — often to a more stable stratum — and are chosen for heavier structures or where the soil requires reaching greater depth for solid support. They typically cost more than concrete piers, but for the right conditions they provide the deeper anchoring the home needs.
Which is right for your home
The correct pier type depends on your soil, how deep stable support lies, and the weight of the structure — which is exactly what a professional evaluation determines. Either way, quality piering should come with a transferable warranty. See how repair works and what it costs.
| Concrete pressed piers | Steel piers | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Concrete segments | Steel pipe |
| How installed | Pressed with home's weight | Driven deep |
| Depth | Reliable in our soils | Deeper / to stable strata |
| Cost | More cost-effective | Typically higher |
| Best for | Many typical homes | Heavier / special conditions |
There's no single "best" pier — the right choice depends on your soil, the depth to stable support, and your home's weight, which is why a proper evaluation should specify the pier type and locations. Be cautious of any company that pushes one solution for every house. And insist on a transferable warranty; quality piering is engineered to hold for the life of the home.
Piering in North Texas soil
Our expansive clay and the depth to stable soil shape which piers make sense across Plano, Frisco, and Richardson. We evaluate the soil and specify the right pier type for your home. See our foundation team.
The short version
- Foundation piers are supports driven deep to stable soil to lift and hold a settling foundation.
- They transfer the home's weight past the moving clay to soil that doesn't shift.
- Concrete pressed piers are common and cost-effective for many DFW homes.
- Steel piers are driven deeper and used for heavier structures or certain soils.
- The right pier type depends on soil, depth, and home weight — set by an evaluation.
- Quality piering should carry a transferable warranty.
Foundation piers — frequently asked questions
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