The Pressed Piling method of foundation repair evolved in the 1980s in an effort to reduce the cost of repairing foundations. However, it has been widely used for over 20 years and it has some disadvantages. We will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages in this article.

The cause of almost all foundation problems in the southern United States is the presence of expansive soils. Foundations rest on top of these soils which provide the ultimate support for the foundation. The problem is that portions of the soil under the foundation will shrink and swell. When the soil absorbs large volumes of water it creates an “uplift” effect on one portion of the foundation. This uplift can crack the rigid concrete foundation and cause damage throughout the building structure such as cracked interior walls and jammed doors. Similarly, when a portion of the soil under the foundation loses a significant amount of water due to evaporation or withdrawal by tree roots, the foundation will lose its underlying support and “fall” or collapse. Typically these problem areas are around the perimeter of the foundation because the moisture content of the soil under the interior portion of the foundation remains relatively stable. However, soil movement and / or plumbing leaks can also cause problems with interior portions of the foundation.

The Pressed Piling method of foundation repair utilizes a series of precast concrete cylinders that are pushed or driven into the soil using the weight of the home or commercial building. The advantage of this method is that the entire job can be done in a short amount of time. Since there is no curing time for poured concrete, this method can usually be completed in one or two days.

The first disadvantage of the Pressed Piling method of foundation repair is the potential for misalignment of the piles. There is no method to determine if the piles have been driven into a straight and vertical column. Past history has shown that the piles can hit a rock, tree root, or other obstruction and become misaligned. Or the driven piles can simply “wander” off at an angle. In addition, the NON-reinforced concrete pressed piles can crack and break and cause misalignment. If the pressed piles are misaligned then their ability to provide support to the foundation is jeopardized.

Another disadvantage of the Pressed Piling method of foundation repair is that the driven piles will reach a point where they can not be driven any further. The weight of the home or building structure is not enough to push the piles any deeper and this is called the refusal point. The force required to drive the piles past the refusal point is greater than the force generated by the weight of the home or building. This is a critical point and all attempts to drive piles deeper should cease immediately. The work crew could potentially cause severe damage to the foundation if they continue.

Another disadvantage of the pressed piling method of foundation repair is that the pressed piles are not connected in any manner and they are subject to the lateral and vertical forces of soil movement. Soil movement can cause vertical and horizontal misalignment of the concrete piles. Expansive soils will repeatedly shrink and swell during a single year. After several years (or sooner) the unconnected piles can become horizontally misaligned and / or lose their vertical integrity. If the unconnected concrete piles become misaligned over time, then they may lose their ability to support the foundation.

Because the pressed piling method of foundation repair was designed to be a low cost alternative, a soil test, or review of a soil test by an engineer, is a rarity. Therefore the repair company does not know how deep they must push the piles to reach stable soil or bedrock. If the piles do not reach stable soil or bedrock then they may not provide support in the long term.

In sum, the pressed piling method of foundation repair has significant disadvantages. The best “insurance” is to select an experienced foundation repair company with many years of history and demand a warranty or lifetime service agreement. Be wary of arbitration agreements and clauses that require the customer to forfeit some of his / her legal rights.