Underpinning a structure will not be a DIY type project, as it will need the use of heavy equipment and experience. If a foundation is not properly raised and set, then further damage may happen in the future. So calling a foundation contractor will help to make sure the job is done right. Underpinning a foundation will often use a set of piers that are drilled underneath your home. These piers will be needed to repair your foundation and ensure that your houses’ base is strong enough to support the structure. As the base of a structure is exposed to high levels of moisture over a long period of time, then structural and foundation damage may be a threat to the building. Repairing the foundations of the property will be very beneficial for the safety of the building. There are a number of different methods that can be used to underpin a foundation. There are steel piers, concrete piers, high-density polyurethane foam, and spot piers that are available. Each will help support your home, but talking with a professional will help you know which pier will work best for your home. Solutions may vary depending on the type of soil that a structure sits upon. Structures that sit on loose or moist soil may need stronger and deeper supports as soil conditions could be more challenging. Dry clay like dirt may not need as deep of supports. Deep foundation supports will need to be drilled to transfer the load of the structure down through the weak topsoil layer to the stronger soil or bedrock beneath the structure. The most common micropiers that are used are helical and push piers for their strength and permanent fix. Although push piers and helical piers can both be used for foundation repair and stabilization, they perform slightly different, but will provide the same results. While it will be best to consult a professional about the types of piers that should be installed for your home, a basic knowledge of the two most commonly used will help gain a general understanding of what options are available to you. Helical piers belong to an entirely different category of piers that are not pushed, but drilled into the ground. Helical piers are long pipes or bars that consist of helices. They will be installed using a hydraulic motor to turn the pipe, which helps to drill the pile into the ground. Helical piers can be installed in any direction that they are drilled, from vertical to inclined. The load bearing capacity of helical piers may sometimes depend on soil quality, the stiffer the soil higher will be its load bearing capacity. Regardless, helical piles will make great repairs and support for fractured footings, light loads, constructions, temporary applications, and tension loading. Push piers are slightly different in that they are installed by pushing a set of steel columns vertically down into the ground to create a sturdy foundation. Push piers will not perform as well as helical piers in loose soil; however, push piers will be set into the hard bedrock. The piers will be installed using hydraulic ram to insert the columns after which they are anchored along side the structure. This allows the structure’s weight to become the resistance mass against which the push is made; therefore, these piers are called push piers. However, the load bearing capacity of push piers is directly proportional to the direct load offered by the building. The functionality of these piers comes with multiple piers together supporting the weight of the house. Ultimately, push piers will give a foundation that is set within the bedrock instead of loose soil to provide maximum support for any structure Both of these piers are made of steel, and will be more expensive than other grout or concrete support systems. However, steel helical and push piers will both be permanent and sturdy supports for residential and commercial buildings.