Wheat Ridge

Helical piles in Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Swelling soil is one of Colorado's most costly geologic hazards. The Colorado Geological Survey explains that clay minerals in dry, semiarid soils expand when wetted, and that along the Front Range from Fort Collins to Pueblo, swelling bedrock formations underlie all of the major cities.

A common fix is to bear on soil or bedrock below the zone of seasonal movement, which is how helical piers show up in foundation repair and deck work around Denver. Denver's adopted residential code sets a frost line of 36 inches below finished grade. Other jurisdictions set their own depths, so confirm the figure with the Wheat Ridge building department before design.

Helical pile companies serving Wheat Ridge

One company in our directory is based in Wheat Ridge.

• Heli-Pile: a manufacturer of helical piles, tiebacks and anchors that supplies oil and gas, building and boardwalk projects through its installers.

Costs and what to ask

National figures from HomeGuide show installed helical piers at about $2,000 to $4,000 each, around $3,000 on average. Colorado costs depend on how deep piers must go to get below swelling soils, how many are needed, and access. For the price drivers in more detail, see our helical pier cost guide.

Questions to ask any company quoting work in Wheat Ridge:

• Engineering: Is the design based on a soils report, and does it account for uplift as the clay swells?
• Torque logs: How is torque recorded, and will the log stay with my permit file?
• Galvanizing and shaft size: How long is each pile, what helix sizes are used, and is the steel galvanized?
• Permits and warranty: What does the permit require in Wheat Ridge, and does the warranty explain what happens if movement continues?

To compare firms beyond Wheat Ridge, browse Colorado helical pile installers.