Huntsville

Helical piles in Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville sits in the part of Alabama where the Geological Survey of Alabama says sinkholes are most common, because acidic water dissolves limestone across the Tennessee Valley. On karst sites, an engineer may use helical piles for lighter structures or pair them with a geotechnical investigation before design.

Clay is the other concern. Heavy clays described by Alabama Cooperative Extension shrink when dry and swell when wet, which cracks slabs and walls. Helical piers carry a house load below that active zone. Frost is shallow statewide, so depth is controlled by soil rather than winter.

Helical pile companies serving Huntsville

One company is based in Huntsville.

• Pinnacle Foundation Systems: a waterproofing, crawl space and foundation repair company whose services include helical piers, serving northern Alabama and southern Tennessee.

Costs and what to ask

HomeGuide puts typical installed cost at roughly $2,000 to $4,000 per helical pier nationally. Alabama prices vary by metro and access, and the total depends mainly on how many piers the house needs. Read our helical pier cost guide for what a quote should include.

Questions to put to any installer:

• Will a licensed engineer design the piles for a karst or clay site, and can you see the calculations?
• What installation torque will be logged for each pile, and will you receive the torque records?
• What shaft diameter and wall thickness are proposed, and is the steel galvanized for long-term soil contact?
• Who pulls the permit with the Huntsville building department, and what does the written warranty cover?

For the wider picture, see our page on Alabama helical pile installers.