Frisco Foundation Repair Co. connects homeowners comparing pressed concrete piers in Frisco, TX with an independent local foundation company that installs them.
Pressed concrete piers are a workhorse of North Texas slab repair. They are made of short precast concrete cylinders, pressed one on top of another into the ground beneath the foundation beam until they will not go deeper.
Installation, Step by Step
- A hole is dug next to the perimeter beam, or under the slab for an interior pier.
- A cylinder is set under the beam and pressed into the soil with a hydraulic jack, using the house's weight to push against.
- More cylinders are added and pressed until the column reaches refusal.
- A cap goes on top, the slab is lifted to the target height and steel shims hold it there.
- Holes are backfilled and final readings are taken.
Strengths
- Fast installation with compact equipment, useful in tight Frisco side yards
- Lifting can happen as soon as the piers are set
- Commonly used on one- and two-story slab houses
Limits
Each column's depth depends on where it reaches refusal, which can vary across a lot. For heavier structures or deeper support, contractors may recommend steel piers or drilled bell-bottom piers.
Questions to Ask
- Are the cylinders tied together with a cable or rebar, or just stacked?
- Will you record the depth reached at each pier?
- How many interior piers, and how will you reach them on a post-tension slab?
- What does the written warranty cover, and does it transfer?
Pressed Piers on Frisco Lots
Frisco side yards are often narrow, with fences, AC units and landscaping close to the house. Pressed concrete piers suit those conditions because the equipment is compact and most work happens from a small excavation beside the beam. On post-tension slabs, exterior pressed piers are common because they do not require cutting through the slab. If interior piers are needed, ask whether the crew will tunnel under the slab from outside or cut access through the floor, and how they will locate the cables first.
The Pier Log
A good installer records each pier as it goes in: its location on a drawing of the house, how deep it reached and anything unusual about the soil. That log is the closest thing you will have to a picture of what is under your house. Keep it with the warranty and the before-and-after readings. If you sell, a buyer's inspector or engineer will likely ask to see it, and if anything moves again, the company that comes back can tell exactly what was done.
Common questions
How much do pressed concrete piers cost?
Angi's cost guide lists piers at about $1,000 to $3,000 each across types; pressed concrete is often at the lower end. Total cost depends on the number of piers.
How long does installation take?
Many homes are done in a few days on site, depending on the number of piers and interior access.
Can pressed piers be used on a two-story house?
They are commonly used on two-story slab houses. The contractor will decide based on the house's weight and the soil.
What is refusal?
The point at which the column will not press any deeper under the house's weight. It tells the crew the pier has reached firm resistance.
Will I see the piers afterward?
No. Holes are backfilled and the piers sit below grade under the beam.
Can pressed piers be adjusted later?
Some can be re-shimmed if part of the house moves again. Ask how adjustments work and whether the warranty covers them.