Are concrete piers better than steel piers in Houston?
Concrete piers are much heavier than steel piers and strong enough to ensure the stability of the entire structure. While it’s true that these piers can’t be installed as deep into the ground as steel piers, most areas in and around Houston don’t have extremely deep soils.
How do you use concrete piers correctly?
CALCULATING THE CORRECT PIER DIAMETER Concrete piers are used to transfer the deck’s weight to the ground. To be effective, they need to be sized and spaced according to the deck’s design load and the soil’s bearing capacity.
Why are concrete piers bad for your home’s foundation?
Because clay soil is able to absorb and hold large quantities of water, it may become too soft to keep the pier upright in its initial position. As a result, the foundation may start to shift, leaving home unstable. Concrete piers are much heavier than steel piers and strong enough to ensure the stability of the entire structure.
How much do concrete footings cost?
How Much Do Concrete Footings Cost? Find out how much your project will cost. Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor. Written by HomeAdvisor. Concrete footings cost $225 and $3,600, averaging $1,912.
How much does it cost to pour concrete piers?
Prices run $3 to $7 per square foot, depending on the project size and foundation type. An average house with dimensions measuring 150 linear feet ranges from $225 to $3,600. Pier footers can be $75 to $150 per square foot, especially if you only need a few.
How deep should a concrete pier be?
Piers can be square, rectangular, or circular, and diameter of piers is usually 6, 8, 10, or 16 inches. The depth of pier foundation is below the freezing depth, usually around five to six feet.
Is pier foundation expensive?
Pier and beam foundations are more traditional and better suited to homes in cold or wet places. A bit more expensive than concrete, pier and beam foundations typically cost $4 to $8 per square foot, or about $8,000 to $15,000.
How deep do concrete piers need to be for a house?
Anything short of a major structural addition will rest on simple posts and spot footings. Before digging, check your local building codes. Generally however, spot footings will need to be 8 inches in diameter and at least 36 inches deep.
Do concrete piers need rebar?
A larger-diameter pier should have four or more pieces of vertical rebar. The rebar provides the tensile strength needed to resist lateral stresses that can be applied to a concrete pier by ground movement, freeze cycles, and wind loads.
Do concrete deck piers need rebar?
Plain concrete deck foundations without rebar are acceptable under the minimum standards of construction established in the International Residential Code. However, placing reinforcing steel within footings is a relatively easy and inexpensive practice that can provide increased performance.
Is it cheaper to build on a slab or piers?
Concrete slabs can be constructed very easily and are cheaper than pier and beam foundations. However, you should know that repairing and maintaining a concrete slab can be more expensive in the long run than taking care of a pier and beam foundation.
How many piers does a house need?
General Pier Spacing Requirements & Guidelines: In the event of a wall setback, such as the front entrance of the building, a setback exceeding 3 feet and less than 9 feet should have not less than 4 piers. Piling or Pier supports should be installed at each corner when an exterior wall changes direction.
What is the cheapest foundation for a house?
concrete slabIf you're building a home, a concrete slab makes sense because of its low cost. It's the cheapest option available, and, comparatively speaking, it's the quickest solution. The right crew can lay a concrete slab foundation in a short period of time, and the drying process doesn't take much longer.
How many piers does my foundation need?
An 8 ft x 12 ft shed will need 6 piers, 3 per long side. What is this? Typically, the span between two piers is based on the dimensions of the beams and the joists. A double 2×8 beam should be supported every 4 to 6 feet.
How tall can concrete piers be?
Piers between 36 and 80 inches (914 and 2032 mm) in height and all corner piers greater than 24 inches (610 mm) in height shall be at least 16 inches by 16 inches (406 mm by 406 mm) consisting of interlocking masonry units and shall be fully capped with minimum 4-inch (102 mm) solid masonry units or equivalent.
How big should my concrete piers be?
For sizing pier diameters for small foundations, the rule of thumb is “1 inch per foot of span.” Thus, a deck that spans 8 ft. will stand comfortably on 8-in. -diameter piers, while a deck that spans 10 ft. requires 10-in. -diameter piers.
How big do concrete piers need to be?
For sizing pier diameters for small foundations, the rule of thumb is “1 inch per foot of span.” Thus, a deck that spans 8 ft. will stand comfortably on 8-in. -diameter piers, while a deck that spans 10 ft. requires 10-in. -diameter piers.
How deep do piers go into ground?
between 25 to 30 feetThe average depth for a Push Pier installation in Southern California is between 25 to 30 feet. Obviously, hillside homes can have a deeper depth requirement due to the amount of fill soils that were utilized during the grading process (to level out the pad so the home can be built).
How tall can concrete piers be?
Piers between 36 and 80 inches (914 and 2032 mm) in height and all corner piers greater than 24 inches (610 mm) in height shall be at least 16 inches by 16 inches (406 mm by 406 mm) consisting of interlocking masonry units and shall be fully capped with minimum 4-inch (102 mm) solid masonry units or equivalent.
What is the maximum height for a single block pier?
PIER DESIGN (SINGLE & MULTI-SECTION STACK) Pier A: Single stack of solid or open cell, 8x8x16 concrete blocks. Maximum height is 36 inches as measured from the top of the footer to the top of the last concrete block.
What is a pier block?
A deck pier block is in many ways just a simplified version of a “precast foundation”, a foundation type recognized by building codes. They’re subject to all of the same requirements as a typical footing, regardless of not being cast-in-place. They must have a sufficient bearing area (the area of the block that sits on the earth) and be a minimum of 12-inches below grade, or below the local frost depth. They cannot, however, be simply placed at grade level.#N#The connection of the deck support post to the blocks is not consistently regulated throughout the country. Some regions with high winds and concerns of uplift forces may not approve them, as there is typically no physical connection between the post and block. For lateral forces, like a post getting hit with a lawn mower, we don’t want the post kicked out. Therefore, building codes require lateral restraint at the base of a post. While pier blocks commonly have protruding concrete lugs that surround the post, there is only opinion as to whether they are of sufficient strength.#N#The small bearing area of pier blocks is limited in supporting much load. Therefore, beam and joist spans must be limited and more blocks must be used over typical construction. Overall, pier blocks are best suited for low- or ground-level decks, where smaller framing materials are common and additional posts and blocks are not an eyesore. Uplift and lateral forces on the posts are also of less concern in ground-level decks.
Can pier blocks be used on a deck?
Overall, pier blocks are best suited for low- or ground-level decks, where smaller framing materials are common and additional posts and blocks are not an eyesore.
Do pier blocks have lugs?
While pier blocks commonly have protruding concrete lugs that surround the post, there is only opinion as to whether they are of sufficient strength. The small bearing area of pier blocks is limited in supporting much load.
How long does it take for concrete to cure?
The process of concrete hardening once it has been placed is called curing, and is a slow process. It typically takes concrete around four weeks to reach over 90% of its final strength, and the strengthening can continue for up to three years. Ensuring that the concrete is damp can increase the strength of the concrete during the early stages of curing. This is achieved through techniques such as spraying concrete slabs with compounds that create a film over the concrete that retains water, as well as ponding, where concrete is submerged in water and wrapped in plastic.
How is concrete made?
Concrete can be purchased in multiple forms, including in 60 or 80-pound bags, or delivered in large amounts by specialized concrete mixer trucks. Proper mixing is essential for the production of strong, uniform concrete. It involves mixing water, aggregate, cement, and any desired additives. Production of concrete is time-sensitive, and the concrete must be placed before it hardens since it is usually prepared as a viscous fluid. Some concretes are even designed to harden more quickly for applications that require rapid set time. Alternatively, in some factory settings, concrete is mixed into dryer forms to manufacture precast concrete products such as concrete walls.
Why is concrete mixing important?
Proper mixing is essential for the production of strong , uniform concrete. It involves mixing water, aggregate, cement, and any desired additives. Production of concrete is time-sensitive, and the concrete must be placed before it hardens since it is usually prepared as a viscous fluid.
What is cement used for?
Cement is a substance that is used to bind materials, such as aggregate, by adhering to said materials, then hardening over time . While there are many types of cement, Portland cement is the most commonly used cement, and is an ingredient in concrete, mortar, and plasters.
Is concrete time sensitive?
Production of concrete is time-sensitive, and the concrete must be placed before it hardens since it is usually prepared as a viscous fluid. Some concretes are even designed to harden more quickly for applications that require rapid set time.
Installation
- As a business owner, it’s only natural to keep a finger on the pulse of your company’s commercial construction projects. Whether it’s pouring a foundation, tilting up concrete walls, or drilling piers into a freshly graded lot, you’ll probably have the same two questions: 1. How long will it take? 2. What does it look like? We’ll explain each proce...
Alternative Installation Methods
- In addition to the more traditional pier installation methods, each version has an alternative that may fare better in different construction projects. What are the different types of pier foundations within each category?
Durability
- Next up is the durability factor. Once a construction crew forces those piers deep into the soil, how well will they handle the elements and the weight of the foundation and building above?
Longevity
- Another major concern when contracting out a multi-million dollar build is longevity. How long can you expect these foundational beams to last before they need replacing or repairs? Or will they last forever?
Depth
- By “depth,” we mean how deep an excavation crew can drill or press these piers into the soil beneath the foundation. Remember:Piers stabilize foundations poured on unstable or settling soils. The added structural integrity comes from the steel or concrete piers being pressed deep enough into the soil to hit a load-bearing rock. Of course, the depth of that layer depends on you…
Building Size and Type
- It’s safe to say that what works in the residential construction industry doesn’t always work in the commercial world, and vice versa. The length, width, weight, and height of a building all determine which type of pier is best.
Pricing
- Our last — but likely most important — comparison is the price factor. How much should your company expect to spend on piers or footings to reinforce your building’s foundation? The final price tag depends on the size of the concrete slab, how far apart the footings are spaced, and how many piers it needs for adequate support.
Conclusion
- Between the two popular pier options, steel is tougher on the company’s construction budget than concrete. But, it has several benefits: 1. More reliable 2. Supports heavier structures 3. Easier to install 4. Versatile regardless of geographic region Piers are also a much more complex concept once we zoom away from the commercial edge of construction. For example, you can DIY piers …