Foundation Repair – Helical Pier and Smart Jack System in Oregon

Ever been on a deck that you could feel, walking from one side to the other, that the structure was slipping down the hillside? With as much was and as hilly as the northwest is, I bet you have. Luckily, TerraFirma Foundation Systems has the solution for these situation. By installing helical piers and Smart Jacks, anyone is able to achieve support to the house and any add on structures to permanently stabilize your home.

Step one, remove deck

To access deck supports and affected sloping side of home, the deck needed to be removed.

Going, going

Continuing deck removal.

Gone

With the deck removed, we now have full access to the deck and house foundation.

Look what we found under the deck

Under the deck, the wood was rotted and breaking away at ease. This could be hiding under any deck or foundation; However, it is very hard to tell unless you have symptoms like a sloping deck or sinking floors. Scary I know.

Other angle of sub deck and house woodwork

We also found a rather large crack in the cement foundation due to the weight of the house pushing down on an uneven surface, aka the settling soil foundation.

House support preparation

Holes are dug to find the bottom of the foundation where a bracket will be secured to the footing.

Deck support preparation

Similar to the house support, holes are dug for our helical piers to support the deck.

Overview of project site

This image shows the helical pile and hydraulic pier systems at the end of preparation.

Close up of hydraulic pier system

Hydraulic piers are a better solution for heavier structures. We find load bearing soil below the structure and support it on that said soil.

Close up of helical pile installation

Helical piles are better suited for lighter weight structures. They use the weight of the structure and the resistance of the soil for total support.

Smart Jacks installed at end of helical piles.

For adjustable support, Smart jacks were added to top of helical installation.

Nice new wood placed under house

Now that we have supported the house, we want to get all the rotten wood out and new wood in.

Time to replace the deck

With the house supported and new supports to stabilize the deck, we can confidently say that both structures are permanently supported.

Different angle

Nice clean angle of the helical pile plus smart jack system supporting a new deck.