Norfolk

Helical piles in Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is in Hampton Roads, where the state guide describes low, wet ground. High groundwater makes open footing excavations difficult in Tidewater, which is a situation where screw-in piles save time. Installation is quick, clean and quiet enough for established neighborhoods.

Typical Tidewater jobs include waterfront piers, docks and boardwalks, and underpinning settled foundations. Virginia's residential code has footings extend below a locally set frost line, generally between about 12 and 24 inches, with southern and coastal localities often shallower.

Helical pile companies serving Norfolk

One company in our directory is based in Norfolk.

• BAY Crawl Space & Foundation Repair: is a restoration contractor offering crawl space and foundation repair; ask which foundation systems it installs before booking.

Costs and what to ask

The Virginia guide cites HomeGuide, which puts a typical installed helical pier at about $2,000 to $4,000. Virginia prices vary with soil, pier count, and access. For more, see our helical pier cost guide.

A written estimate in Norfolk should list pier count, target torque, engineering and permit fees, and how extra depth is billed. Given high groundwater and local frost depth, ask to see how the contractor reached those assumptions, and keep every record after the job is finished.

• Who is the engineer of record, and did the design account for high groundwater and local frost depth?
• Will you record installation torque for every pile and give me the logs?
• What shaft size and galvanizing or corrosion protection do you use for Norfolk conditions?
• Who pulls the Norfolk permit, and what warranty covers the work?

For wider coverage, see Virginia helical pile installers.