At Douglas Foundation Solutions, we believe in providing the best quality foundation repair at a reasonable price. We have developed the exclusive Douglas Smart Pier System® to correct some of the serious flaws inherent in traditional concrete pressed pier repair options
To understand the benefits of our concrete Smart Pier System®, we first need to understand the weaknesses of the traditional concrete pier system.
Most concrete pier systems drive a single concrete pier into the ground, topped by a jacking block. This jacking block bears the weight of the house above it, and is topped in turn by two concrete top cap cylinders. The problem arises because the two cap cylinders at the top of the pier are not concentrically aligned with the concrete pier below, introducing a significant point of stress within the jacking block. This can cause the block to crack or tilt, allowing the foundation to slip off the pier.
Traditional concrete piers have a fatal flaw because they depend upon the strength of the jacking block. The jacking block is actually the weakest part of the system, only able to absorb 3,500 pounds per spare inch, whereas the concrete piles that make up the pier below have approximately 8,000 pounds per square inch of strength.
Instead of installing one pier per hole, we install two piers per hole, eliminating the need for a jacking block altogether and reducing the total number of holes that we need to dig.
Because each of our Smart Piers are directly aligned with the pier column, we significantly reduce the potential of pier cap tilt and slippage. This concentric alignment allows our piers to be shimmed very tightly to the foundation.
The result is a much stronger, more stable foundation repair that requires less disturbance to your landscape to install.