Pittsburgh

Helical piles in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Steep hills and weak claystones make the Pittsburgh region the state's most landslide-prone area, according to DCNR. Pittsburgh lists a 36-inch frost line, as compiled by FootingDepth, though the Uniform Construction Code leaves the frost depth to each municipality.

An engineer may request a geotechnical review on landslide sites, and on hillsides piles often go deeper to get below weak colluvium. DCNR's landslide mapping is a useful starting point when you want to know whether a lot sits in a higher-risk area. Most helical pile products carry ICC-ES evaluation, and the municipal code official or a third-party agency issues the permit.

Common Pittsburgh-area uses include deck and addition foundations on sloped lots, underpinning settled houses and supporting retaining structures. The small equipment footprint helps on tight, steep sites where larger rigs cannot reach.

Helical pile companies serving Pittsburgh

One company in the directory is based in Pittsburgh.

• Ram Jack Pittsburgh: a Pittsburgh foundation repair contractor offering helical and driven piles, slab and concrete repair, and pier and beam repair across Western Pennsylvania.

Costs and what to ask

Per HomeGuide, installed helical piers run about $2,000 to $4,000 nationally. Pennsylvania prices shift with depth to bearing, slope access and pier count. Our helical pier cost guide lets you compare scenarios.

• Is the site on a slope, and has a geotechnical engineer reviewed it?
• Will you provide torque and depth logs?
• What shaft size and galvanizing are in the bid?
• Who pulls the City of Pittsburgh permit, and what does the warranty cover?

More Pennsylvania companies are listed under Pennsylvania helical pile installers.