WESLEY
M. BOLDEN & SONS
Serving
Chicagoland Since 1943
FOUNDATION
SUPPORT AND LIFTING
CONCRETE RAISING, SLAB JACKING
Lifting
a Structure With an Embedded Pier | Slabjacking | Get a Free
Estimate
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HOW A PIER SUPPORTS
FAILING STRUCTURES
The porch pictured below on a
Chicago west suburban home was put in after the foundation and
rest of the house was constructed. It was supported by aggregate
and a brick face. After 50 years, the aggregate eroded, and the
porch began to fall over. Contractors estimated the cost of
demolition, waste hauling, and construction of a new porch at
$15,000.
Our inspection field engineer determined that the porch could be saved by a
combination of slab jacking (pumping cement under the porch) and
a single foundation-supporting pier.
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| Under the stress of the
concrete movement, the original wrought iron
railing fractured. A gap of about 5 inches was
left between the bottom of the wrought iron
railing and the porch.
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| The
hole is dug below the foundation of the porch.
The additional depth is excavated for placing of
the pier bracket (see below). Note the water
sprinkler pipe remains intact. |
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| STEP 2. The
pier consists of sections of 3" steel
schedule 80 pipe. They are drilled into the
ground to provide a firm footing to bedrock.
The
first section is attached to a drill bit, which
is a 12" corkscrew or "helix."
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(above)
The three-man team (Bill,
George (white shirt), and Brendon (left) guide
the helix bit into the ground as it probes the
ground below the hole. The helix bit is driven by
the most powerful hand-held hydraulic available,
the 4500 ft-lb torque machine built by the
Estridge Corp. |
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| STEP
3. Once bedrock is reached,
a 100% steel bracket, patented by the firm (above
left of shovel), is slid down the connected pipes
into the hole. It is rotated into place beneath
the foundation. Two rods fit into the bracket,
and a T-bar is attached above them.
A
4500 lb. hydraulic lift then pulls the bracket up
until it is firmly seated against the building
foundation. Once seated, it is bolted in place,
completing the pier installation.
We then complete
the job by replacing all dirt into the hole,
cementing and caulking over the existing cracks
in the structure, and hosing off the surrounding
grass, sidewalks, and driveways.
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WHAT
IS SLABJACKING?
Slabjacking is the insertion of concrete under a settling,
sinking, or fragmenting surface to provide it support from
underneath. The operation involves drilling a 3" hole into
the existing concrete, and hydraulically pumping fresh concrete
under the surface of that existing concrete. This provides a
fresh layer of concrete, filling any voids that have been created
by erosion or soil settling.
Slabjacking can be compared to erecting a large pillar underneath
the concrete that is failing and is far cheaper than removing the
old concrete, hauling it off, and rebuilding the driveway,
sidewalk, garage floor, porch, or building.
Depending on the structure involved, slabjacking can be completed
in an afternoon or morning.
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Contact Us
for a Free Estimate
r Serving the Greater Chicagoland
Area since 1943.
r Work guaranteed for 10 years.
r Fully insured. All employees
covered by workman's compensation.
email
Wesley M. Bolden and Sons for a Free Estimate
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