Philadelphia

Helical piles in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia's older rowhomes sit shoulder to shoulder, and helical piles install with little vibration, which matters beside aging masonry. Small machines also fit narrow lots where a larger rig could not turn around. In coal country elsewhere in the state, abandoned workings are another reason engineers prefer a foundation that can be tested as it is installed.

Pennsylvania's code leaves the frost line to each municipality, with local values commonly between about 30 and 42 inches. The Philadelphia area generally uses a shallower figure, as compiled by FootingDepth, so confirm the number with the city. An engineer typically sets minimum embedment and the installation torque that confirms capacity.

Helical pile companies serving Philadelphia

One company is based in Philadelphia, and it works mainly with contractors.

• Danbro Distributors LLC: a distributor of IDEAL helical piles, STELCOR micropiles and installation equipment that offers engineering support and training to contractors.

Costs and what to ask

According to HomeGuide, helical piers commonly cost $2,000 to $4,000 each installed across the country. Pennsylvania prices shift with depth to bearing, slope access, and how many piers the load requires. 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 rowhome or party wall, 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 in urban fill?
• Who pulls the permit with the City of Philadelphia, and what does the written warranty cover?

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