Richmond

Helical piles in Richmond, Virginia

Conditions across Virginia range from Piedmont clays around Richmond to low, wet ground in Hampton Roads, according to the state guide. Helical piers can be advanced through weak or reactive layers to reach better bearing, and installation is quick, clean and quiet enough for established neighborhoods, which suits older Richmond blocks.

The Virginia Residential Code has footings extend below the frost line set by each locality, and values generally fall between about 12 and 24 inches. On problem soils, counties may ask for an engineer's design that lists pile depth and the installation torque tied to capacity. Check with the City of Richmond or your county for the local submittal rules.

Helical pile companies serving Richmond

One Richmond company is in our directory.

• Stable Foundations: repairs foundations and crawl spaces, including helical pier installation, and does basement wall repair, encapsulation and waterproofing in Richmond, Ashland and central Virginia.

Costs and what to ask

For a baseline, HomeGuide reports about $2,000 to $4,000 per installed helical pier across the U.S. Virginia prices vary with soil, pier count and access. See our helical pier cost guide for what a written estimate should include.

Questions to ask any company quoting work in Richmond:

• Engineering: Will a licensed engineer provide the design for Piedmont clay on this lot?
• Torque logs: Can I get the final installation torque for each pier in writing?
• Galvanizing and shaft size: What pier size and coating are specified?
• Permits and warranty: What does the city or county building office need for a permit, and how long is the warranty?

Firms based outside Richmond are collected under Virginia helical pile installers.