Virginia Beach

Helical piles in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia soils range from Piedmont clays around Richmond to low, wet ground in Hampton Roads. Fairfax County's guide to marine clay describes shrink-swell clays in Northern Virginia that cause slope instability and poor foundation support. In Virginia Beach, the more relevant point from the state guide is that helical piers can be advanced through weak layers to better bearing, and that waterfront piers, docks and boardwalks are common Tidewater applications.

Frost depth is set by each locality and generally falls between about 12 and 24 inches, with coastal localities often shallower. On problem soils, counties may ask for an engineer's design listing pile depth and installation torque, so ask the city what it requires for your project.

Helical pile companies serving Virginia Beach

Two companies listed in Virginia Beach are shown below.

• Virginia Foundation Solutions, Inc.: A foundation and masonry contractor offering foundation repair and construction; ask which foundation systems it installs before booking.
• Groundworks: A national foundation repair company. This listing is a corporate office, not a local installer.

Costs and what to ask

HomeGuide reports that helical piers cost about $2,000 to $4,000 each installed nationally, with about $3,000 typical. Virginia prices vary with soil, pier count and access. See our helical pier cost guide for the main cost drivers. Questions to ask:

• Do you install helical piers, or subcontract them?
• Will an engineer set pile depth and the installation torque tied to capacity?
• Will you provide torque logs?
• What galvanizing is used, and who handles the permit and warranty?

Nearby listings include Chesapeake and Norfolk. See all Virginia helical pile installers.