Step 01 · Free On-Site Inspection
The first step is always a no-cost site visit. A licensed foundation specialist walks the property, takes elevation readings room-by-room with a digital level, and evaluates the visible structural symptoms — cracks, slope, gaps, sticking doors, chimney lean. The goal at this stage is to identify the root cause, not just describe the symptoms.
On the same visit we ask about the surrounding history: prior repairs, recent storms, drainage changes, nearby construction, tree work near the footings, age of the structure, any insurance documentation already in progress. That context shapes the engineering recommendation.
You leave the inspection with a clear, written explanation of what we found and what the next step looks like. If the right fix is a cosmetic repair, we’ll say that. If a helical system is the answer, you’ll know within 24 hours of the inspection what the project will cost.
Step 02 · Engineer-Stamped Design
Our PE develops a custom helical pier or pile design tailored to your specific soil profile and structural load. The stamped design specifies pier count, pier location, target depth, torque-to-capacity, and load rating per pier. It’s sealed and signed for permitting — the same design that gets submitted to your building department gets handed to you.
Engineering happens in-house. There’s no separate engineering firm to coordinate with, no second design fee, and no buck-passing if a field condition deviates from the original spec. The same PE who stamped your drawings is reachable during install if anything needs to change.
For commercial projects, the design package also includes ICC-ES Evaluation Service Report references, capacity calculations, and any specialty drawings required for the local jurisdiction.
Step 03 · Helical Pier Installation
Certified crews mobilize with hydraulic torque motors and the genuine OEM hardware specified in the design. Each pier is advanced through the failing soil layer to competent bearing strata — typically 8–40 ft below grade in Florida soils. Installation continues until the documented torque reading matches or exceeds the engineer’s capacity target.
Two pieces of documentation come out of this step: the per-pier install log, showing depth and torque-to-capacity, and the bracket attachment record for underpinning jobs. Both are signed by the crew lead and entered into the project record before lift begins.
Residential installations typically complete in 2–5 days. Commercial helical pile jobs run 50–100 piles per crew per day. We work clean — landscaping is protected with plywood and tarps, daily site cleanup is the standard, and we leave the property looking the way we found it.
Step 04 · Lift, Verify, Warranty
For repair and stabilization work, hydraulic jacks lift the structure back toward target elevation while real-time monitoring tracks per-pier load distribution. We don’t over-lift — the goal is to recover lost elevation while staying within the structure’s safe range, then lock in the position.
A representative load test runs on completion: hydraulic loading to design capacity with a calibrated cell, deflection measurement, and a signed test certificate. For commercial projects, additional load tests run on a percentage of installed piles per the spec.
The lifetime structural warranty issues the same day. It covers further movement of the helical pier system itself, transferable on residential properties at sale. At the 12-month mark we’re back on site for a complimentary elevation re-check — standard on every job, included in the original price.
What sets our process apart
- Diagnosis first. We won’t install piers when the actual problem is a leaking gutter, drainage failure, or tree-root issue. The free inspection is a real diagnostic exercise, not a sales call.
- In-house engineering. The PE is on staff. Designs are stamped here, not subcontracted out, so field decisions don’t hit a 3-day delay waiting for an outside engineer to weigh in.
- Documented capacity per pier. Every pier ships with a torque-to-capacity reading. That reading is what insurance carriers, lenders, and home buyers ask for — and what cheaper installers can’t produce.
- Same-day load test on completion. The structural warranty doesn’t wait for a third-party tester to schedule. We test, document, and warranty in one visit.
- 12-month elevation re-check. Standard on every project, no separate trip charge. If anything’s moved (it hasn’t, but we check), we address it.
Typical timeline
- Day 0: You call. Most calls reach us at the toll-free dispatch line within 60 seconds.
- Days 1–3: Free on-site inspection scheduled and completed. Written diagnosis and pricing within 24 hrs of the visit.
- Days 4–10: Engineer-stamped design produced and delivered. Permit applications submitted to the local building department.
- Days 10–24: Permit pulled (varies by county), crew scheduled, hardware ordered.
- Install week: Residential installs complete in 2–5 days. Commercial timelines vary by pile count.
- Same day as install completion: Lift, load test, and warranty issued.
- +12 months: Complimentary elevation re-check appointment.
Process steps at a glance
- 01 · Free On-Site Inspection — A licensed foundation specialist evaluates your structure, takes elevation readings, and identifies the root cause.
- 02 · Engineer-Stamped Design — Our PE develops a custom helical pier plan — pile count, depth, torque, load capacity — sealed for permitting.
- 03 · Helical Pier Installation — Our crews install helicals through hydraulic torque motors, advancing each pier to refusal in competent strata.
- 04 · Lift, Verify, Warranty — Hydraulic jacks lift the structure to target elevation. Load tests confirm capacity. Lifetime structural warranty issued.
Ready to start?
Step 1 is free and obligation-free. Call 866-398-9323 or request an estimate online and we’ll schedule the on-site inspection within three business days.