Helical Piers vs. Push Piers: What Is the Difference?

Helical piers screw into the soil and can support both light and heavy structures. Push piers are hydraulically advanced using an existing building as the reaction weight. That makes helical piers useful for additions, porches, and sites where installation torque is part of the capacity check. Push piers are an underpinning option for a heavy existing house with a footing strong enough to take the installation load.

Both systems bypass weak soil near the foundation and transfer the building load to deeper bearing material. Neither is automatically “better.” The right choice depends on the structure, footing, soil, access, and engineered repair plan.

How a helical pier works

A helical pier is a steel shaft with one or more spiral plates near the lead section. A hydraulic drive head rotates it into the ground. As the plates move into denser soil, resistance rises. The crew records depth and installation torque and checks those values against the repair design.

Because the installation equipment supplies the force, a helical pier does not need a heavy building overhead to advance. It can support an existing home, but it can also be designed for a porch, addition, deck, or new foundation. The ICC-ES AC358 acceptance criteria covers the evaluation of helical pile systems and their components.

How a push pier works

A push pier is a steel tube installed in sections through a bracket at an existing footing. Hydraulic equipment presses each section down while pushing against the structure. The pier advances until it reaches the depth or resistance required by the design. The completed piers are then connected and loaded together to stabilize the structure and, where the repair plan allows, attempt a controlled lift.

An ICC-ES evaluation report for a push-pier system describes the basic use clearly: underpinning an existing concrete foundation and transferring compression loads to soil with adequate bearing capacity. The report also requires engineered design when that system is used under residential-code structures.

When 603 considers a helical pier

• The structure is light, new, or cannot provide enough reaction weight for a push pier
• The design calls for installation torque to help verify capacity
• An addition, deck, porch, or new foundation needs deep bearing support
• The soil and access suit a rotating helical lead section

A helical pier is not chosen just because the foundation has a crack. The movement pattern still has to show that the footing has lost support. A stable leaking crack needs a different repair.

When 603 considers a push pier

• A heavy existing structure can provide the reaction needed to advance the pier
• The footing and bracket connection can handle the installation and service loads
• The plan calls for underpinning to suitable bearing soil or rock
• The access and structure allow the hydraulic setup to work safely

The weight and condition of the existing foundation matter. Hubbell CHANCE’s residential repair guidance notes that resistance-pier installation depends on both the building’s weight and the strength of its foundation.

Do helical piers and push piers cost the same?

At 603, they use the same price schedule: $2,700 per pier for the first three, then $2,200 per pier after that. The final job total can still differ because the number of piers, depth, access, engineering, and lift plan differ from house to house.

A typical New Hampshire structural piering job runs about $12,000 to $18,000 all in. That is a planning range, not a quote for every foundation. See the full helical pier cost guide for pier-count examples and the rest of the price factors.

What are the disadvantages?

Helical pier limitations

Boulders, dense obstructions, or soil that the selected helix cannot penetrate can force a design change. The system also needs specialized drive equipment and an engineered torque or capacity target.

Push pier limitations

A push pier needs a suitable existing structure to push against. A light porch or new build cannot provide that reaction. The footing and bracket connection also have to tolerate the installation forces, which is why the existing concrete and load path must be inspected.

Can either system lift a settled foundation?

Sometimes. Stabilizing the footing so it stops moving is the first goal. After the piers are installed and loaded, a controlled lift may recover some of the lost elevation. How much is safe depends on the structure, finishes, utilities, and how long the movement has been there. No responsible contractor can promise a full return to level before the repair is designed and the structure responds under load.

What 603 checks before choosing a pier

• The crack pattern, floor elevations, and direction of movement
• The foundation and footing material and condition
• The weight and load path above the failed area
• Available soil information and likely bearing conditions
• Exterior and interior access
• Whether the goal is stabilization only or a controlled lift

603 installs both systems in-house. The choice is made from the building and the ground, not from a sales preference. Both installed systems carry a 25-year engineered performance warranty, subject to the written warranty terms.

Frequently asked questions

Which is stronger, a helical pier or a push pier?

Strength comes from the selected system, shaft, bearing material, connection, and engineered capacity. The category name alone does not tell you which completed repair will carry more.

Are push piers effective?

Yes, when a qualified design matches them to a heavy existing structure, a sound bracket connection, and suitable bearing material. They are a recognized underpinning method, not a temporary jack.

Can push piers be used for new construction?

Usually not in the same way, because they rely on an existing structure for reaction during installation. Helical piles can be installed before the building exists and capped for the planned load.

How do I know whether a crack needs piers?

You do not choose piers from the crack alone. Stair-step cracking, sloping floors, sticking openings, and measured settlement can point to lost footing support, but the foundation and elevations need to be checked. A stable wall crack may need sealing or bracing instead.