A settling foundation needs the right pier, and that choice usually comes down to steel versus concrete. The best option depends on your home, though in most cases, steel comes out ahead. Our steel piers foundation repair method reaches all the way to bedrock, which gives the strongest and longest-lasting support available. Below, we explain how steel and concrete piers compare and when each one makes sense for your property.
Steel Piers vs Concrete Piers: What is the Difference?
The right pier depends on your project and the type of foundation you have. Both steel and concrete piers lift and stabilize a settling structure, but they reach their support in very different ways.
How Steel Piers Work
We drive steel piers deep into the ground, generally all the way down to bedrock. Once a pier reaches that depth, it sits on the most solid support available. Your foundation then has a stable base that does not depend on the soil above it.
How Concrete Piers Work
Concrete piers are sections of concrete buried in the soil. Soil tends to shift and move over time. Because a concrete pier rests directly in that soil, the structure above it can lose support as the ground moves.
Key Takeaway: Steel piers anchor to bedrock. Concrete piers rest in shifting soil. That single difference is why steel usually provides longer-lasting support.
Why Steel Piers Foundation Repair Lasts Longer
Reaching solid ground is only part of the story. The stability you get afterward, and the materials behind it, are what make steel the longer-lasting choice.
A Stronger, More Stable Hold
Because steel rests on bedrock instead of loose soil, the support underneath your home stays put. A foundation wall or porch set on steel is far less likely to settle again. Concrete piers in shifting soil can give out sooner and leave you repairing the same spot twice.
Engineered for a Lifetime
The piers we install carry an engineer’s certification, and the manufacturer designs them to last a lifetime. In 25 years of foundation work, we cannot recall the last time a steel pier pipe rusted out. Properly installed, they keep doing their job for the long haul.
Key Takeaway: Engineer-certified steel piers, anchored to bedrock, are built to last a lifetime. That combination is hard for concrete to match.
Need expert help deciding between steel and concrete piers? Contact Olson Foundation Repair for a free consultation.
When Each Pier Type Makes Sense
Steel is our go-to in most situations, but the right choice still depends on your foundation. The structure you are supporting and what lies beneath it both matter.
Best Uses for Steel and Helical Piers
Steel piers work especially well in a few common situations:
- Under a typical foundation wall
- Under a settled or dropped concrete front porch
- Where there is no footing, using helical piers to lock the structure back into place
These options give you steel’s strength wherever your home needs it.
Choosing the Right Steel Piers Foundation Repair Plan
Every home is different, so we inspect before we recommend anything:
- We check the foundation, the soil, and how your home has settled.
- We confirm whether a footing is present underneath.
- We match you with steel or helical piers based on what we find.
That is how we build a repair plan that holds for the long term.
Pro Tip: Ask any contractor whether their piers are engineer-certified and how deep they go. Depth to bedrock and certified materials are what separate a lasting fix from a short-term patch.
Get a Lasting Fix from Olson Foundation Repair
A settling foundation will not fix itself, and the right piers make all the difference. With decades of hands-on experience and engineer-certified materials, we install supports that are made to last. The result is a stable home and a foundation you can stop worrying about. Contact Olson Foundation Repair today for a free estimate and a steel pier foundation repair plan you can count on.
