Dallas

Helical piles in Dallas, Texas

Much of Texas is built on clay that moves. The state soil, Houston Black, is a classic shrink-swell clay of the Blackland Prairie along the I-35 corridor, and it can crack several feet deep in a dry summer, according to the Soil Science Society of America's Texas state soil guide. Those wet-dry cycles lift and drop slabs, which is why foundation repair is a steady business from Dallas to San Antonio.

Helical piers answer that by bypassing the active clay layer and bearing on firmer soil below it. Because they are screwed in with hydraulic equipment rather than poured, they suit tight backyards and existing homes. Frost rarely drives depth in Texas; the active clay zone and the load usually do.

Helical pile companies serving Dallas

One company in the directory is based in Dallas.

• Olshan Foundation Repair (Dallas): a Dallas foundation repair company with roots in 1933, listed for foundation and concrete repair; ask which foundation systems it installs before booking.

Costs and what to ask

Nationally, helical piers typically run about $2,000 to $4,000 each installed, with many projects close to $3,000 per pier, according to HomeGuide. Texas jobs depend on how deep the stable layer is, how many piers the slab needs and access. See our helical pier cost guide.

• How deep is the active clay zone here, and how does the engineer set pier depth?
• Will you provide torque and depth logs for each pier?
• How do you account for uplift from swelling clay on the shaft, and what galvanizing is used?
• Who handles the City of Dallas permit, and what does the warranty cover if the slab moves again?

More Texas companies are listed under Texas helical pile installers.