New Braunfels Foundation Experts puts homeowners comparing pressed concrete piers in New Braunfels, TX in touch with an independent local foundation company that installs them.
Pressed concrete piers are one of the most common ways Texas slab houses are repaired. Short precast cylinders are pressed into the ground one on top of another beneath the foundation beam until the column will go no deeper, then the slab is lifted on them.
How They Go In
- A hole is dug beside the beam, or under the slab for interior piers.
- A cylinder is placed under the beam and pressed down with a hydraulic jack, using the house's weight for resistance.
- More cylinders are added and pressed until the column reaches refusal.
- A cap and steel shims set the slab at its new height.
- Holes are backfilled and final readings are taken.
Rock, Clay and Refusal
Where a pressed pier stops depends on the ground. On the prairie side of New Braunfels, columns may press deep into clay before reaching firm resistance. On the Hill Country side, limestone close to the surface can stop a column early. Shallow refusal on rock is not necessarily a problem, but it changes how the contractor thinks about the repair. Ask what depths they typically see in your part of town.
Strengths
- Compact equipment for tight side yards
- The slab can be lifted as soon as piers are set
- A well-known, widely used method on one- and two-story houses
When Other Piers Fit Better
For heavier buildings, or where deeper or engineered support is needed, contractors may suggest steel piers or drilled bell-bottom piers.
Questions to Ask
- Are the cylinders tied with a cable or rebar, or stacked loose?
- Will you record the depth reached at each pier?
- How many interior piers, and how will you reach them?
- What does the written warranty cover, and does it transfer?
What "Refusal" Means
Crews press concrete cylinders into the ground one on top of another until the weight of the house resists further pressing. That stopping point is called refusal. In clay it may come deeper; where limestone is close, it may come sooner. The depth is recorded for each pier.
Keep the Pier Log
Ask for a drawing that shows where each pier was placed and how deep it went. Keep it with the warranty and readings. If you sell, a buyer's inspector may ask for it, and if the house moves again, the next crew will know what is already there.
Interior Piers
Where interior beams have dropped, piers may be needed inside the house too. That means opening the floor, so ask how many interior piers are planned and how flooring will be patched.
Common questions
How much do pressed concrete piers cost?
Angi's guide lists piers at about $1,000 to $3,000 each across types; pressed concrete is often at the lower end. The total depends on how many are needed.
What if the pier hits rock right away?
On rocky lots, columns can reach refusal at shallow depth. Ask the contractor how that affects their plan.
How long does installation take?
Many homes take a few days on site.
Can pressed piers be used on two-story houses?
They are commonly used on two-story slab houses. The contractor decides based on the house and soil.
What is refusal?
The point at which a column will not press deeper under the house's weight.
Will I see the piers afterward?
No. They sit below grade under the beam.