Sinking foundations, cracked and buckled walls and uneven floors are problems commonly faced anually by some quarter-million homeowners. Homes and other structures situated on unstable soils settle when their foundations are subjected to extreme moisture conditions or lack proper drainage. A shifting foundation may result in structural damage to your home and a loss of your investment.

Change Helical Pier ® Foundation Systems offer a technically superior and cost-effective alternative to other remedial systems. Our patented stabilizing system is backed by more than 80 years of structural engineering experience.

The concept is founded on the principle of turning a screw anchor into stable subsoil strata until the torque applied indicates that the necessary load capacity has been achieved. Adjustable brackets are then attached to the base of your foundation walls, connecting the screw anchors to the foundation. The weight of your home is then shifted to the screw anchors. In the process, foundations, walls, and floors are repositioned and retained from further movement.

This innovative system contracts with other methods which use the structure's weight to force pipes down into the system ground. Pipe-pile or skin-friction systems (without helix plates on the shafts) can involve costly and time-consuming construction methods. Due to the extensive excavation they require, site features such as walkways and landscaping are often disturbed.

Helical Pier Foundation Systems may be installed only by contractors who have been certified by the Chance Company. The load-bearing steel shafts are screwed into the ground independent of the structure and their bearing or holding capacity is verified as the system is installed.

When you select Change Helical Pier ® Foundation Systems to remedy your foundation problems, a dealer certified by the Chance Company will visit your home to inspect your foundation and determine installatin requirements. The dealer will prepare an installation design based on your home's damage and weight and local soil conditions. The design analysis will address the size, position and load requirement for each anchor. Then the dealer will give you a price quotation and time estimate for the Helical Pier Foundation Systems installation.

Following the design specifications, the contractor will excavate down to the footing at each anchor location. A notch will be chipped out of the footing to accomodate a support bracket. A high-torque hydraulic drive head will screw the anchors into stable subsoil until the prescribed depth is reached. A steel L-shaped bracket placedon top of each anchor shaft will connect to the base of the foundation wall. the weight of your home then will be transferred to the Helical Pier Foundation Systems by a calculated procedure of hydraulic jacking and adjustment of /the brackets. Finally, all excavation will be backfilled.

Settling, cracked or bulging concrete floors are also the result of soil movement and are corrected in much the same way. An access hole is cut through the floor at the prescribed locatin. A screw anchor is inserted through the opening and screwed into stable subsoil. The top of the anchor is then fitted with a steel channel plate that spans the diameter of the hole. Screwing a bolt through the channel plate applies the load to the anchor shaft and the floor is raised. After the correction is made, the access holes are filled with concrete.

Buckled foundation walls are also stablizied by screw anchors. The contractor first carefully excavates a narrow trench outside, along the foundation wall, to relieve pressure and provide room for repositioning the wall. A small hole is drilled through the wall atthe affected area. From inside, a stell shaft is inserted through the hole and a screw plate is attached outside. Then the contractor uses a drive motor to install the screw anchor to its proper depth. A ribbed steel plate positioned over the shaft protuding inside the wall is secured by a nut. Tighting the nut counter-acts further movement and, in many cases, straightens the wall.