ECP was built upon our steel piering system, and we never forgot where we came from. We pride ourselves on supplying our partner contractors with the best foundation repair products, including our line of steel push piers.
Push piers, interchangeably known as resistance piers, have a variety of uses in foundation repair. Their strength, ability to be installed from either inside or outside a structure, and low- to no-vibration installation make them an important option when contractors seek the right tools for each foundation repair job.
What are Push or Resistance Piers?
ECP push piers are end-bearing piers. They consist of a series of strong rods made of American-made steel, with a special collar on the bottom one that reduces soil friction during installation. This enables the pier to be sunk as deep as needed.
The piers are sunk using portable hydraulic equipment until they reach bedrock or load-bearing strata of soil. The depth of the load-bearing strata dictates pier depth and the suitability of push piers for the job.
After sinking, the pier connects to a bracket attached to the house. Then, a hydraulic system lifts the house back to level. Subsequently, the load transfers onto the piers, fortifying the foundation where the underlying soil may be less supportive.
Advantages of ECP Push Piers
Strength
All foundation-underpinning products must be strong at their core. They support the weight of a building, as you know. At ECP, our push pier systems have that strength in spades.
Their ultimate capacity ranges from 115,000 pounds for one of the wall-mounted bracket systems to 42,000 pounds for one bracket, including a 4-inch offset to clear obstacles against the foundation walls. The American-made steel piers and brackets won’t buckle under the weight of a building.
Versatility
Except for micropiles, all ECP push piers bars are essentially the same—steel bars with a unique collar on the bottom piece, varying slightly in size. The versatility of the piering system stems from the brackets that attach the piers to the building’s foundation.
Along with the standard eccentric bracket, ECP offers versions with 2″ and 4″ offsets. These offsets help clear obstacles near the building’s foundation.
Is the building’s footing beginning to crumble? We have a bracket for that: wall-mount brackets that attach directly to the foundation wall.
If the installation will be easier if the pier is underneath the foundation instead of alongside it, ECP offers a concentric bracket that allows the pier to be driven deeper, lift larger loads, and be more stable than any other concentric pier on the market. Also, while each has a standard lift of 4 inches, our push piers are fully adjustable if the job requires more lift.
Resistance Piers – Ease of Installation
Like all of our piers, Earth Contact Products’ push pier system can be installed with portable equipment with little to no vibration.
Each of our piers can be field-loaded tested during installation. This allows you to be certain that the piering system is strong enough to support the building’s load.
Training and Support
At ECP, we don’t just sell our piers and say, have at it. We offer our partner contractors training and support.
Our training classes include both classroom sessions and practical installation training.
They cover everything from making load and drive pressure calculations to understanding soil borings and how to use them in planning push pier installation. We ensure that our partner contractors and their staff have all the information necessary to provide their clients with the best foundation repair results possible.
We provide 24/7 dealer service, support, and a 25-year warranty on our push piers and other steel piering products.
Installing ECP Push or Resistance Piers
The ECP push pier installation process is designed to be done with portable equipment and with minimum disturbance to the site.
- Excavation: Dig holes roughly three feet square to expose the building’s footing at each point where a pier will be installed.
- Prepare the Footing: Assuming that you are using a standard eccentric bracket, the footing will need to be prepared so there is a stable place to install the bracket for the pier.
- Install the Bracket: Attach the bracket to the building’s footing.
- Drive the Pier: Sink the push pier into the ground until it reaches bedrock or a load-bearing soil strata.
- Load Test the Pier: Increase the force on the pier to more than the amount needed to handle the weight of the house. This ensures that each pier is ready to withstand the force when the building load is transferred onto them. All data is recorded.
- Lift the House: Hydraulic lifting equipment is placed onto the pier and connected to hydraulic pumps. The load is then gently transferred onto the piering system. Then, the hydraulics are used to raise the foundation back to level.
- Remove the Hydraulics: Once the building is level and as close to the original elevation as possible, the hydraulics are removed, and the final work on the piers is completed.
- Restore the Site: Fill in the excavations and compact the soil, leaving the work site clean for the building’s owners.
Turn to ECP for Your Foundation Repair Product Needs
Are you a contractor interested in using ECP products? Either call us or fill out our partnership information form. If you want more information on the specific push piers, brackets, and accessories we sell, click here. For homeowners needing foundation repairs, My Foundation Repairs can provide you with a qualified contractor in your area.