Two pier bids on the table: how to compare them line by line
Foundation pier quotes are hard to compare because the totals bundle pier type, pier count, depth and engineering. This worksheet pulls those apart so you can see whether two contractors are proposing the same repair at different prices, or different repairs.
§1Know your soil before anyone visits
Pier depth and the choice of system depend on what is under the house. USDA's Web Soil Survey, operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides soil maps and data for most of the country, with a Soil Data Explorer to check the suitability of soils for a particular use. Print the report for your lot and ask each bidder how it affects their design.
Expansive clay is a common culprit. The Colorado Geological Survey's guide for homebuyers calls swelling soil a common and sometimes serious geologic hazard that can severely damage houses, slowly, with houses in one neighbourhood affected at different times.
§2The two systems in one paragraph each
Push piers are steel tubes, usually 3 to 4 inches in diameter, driven in 3-foot sections through a bracket on the footing by a hydraulic ram until they refuse to advance; they carry load in compression, so reaching real bearing matters. Typical pricing is $1,000 to $3,000 per pier (push pier foundation repair).
Helical piers are screwed in: a steel shaft with one or more helical plates is rotated into the ground. Installed prices run about $700 to $2,500 per pier, with depth to bearing driving the extensions and machine time (helical pier cost). For both systems, most residential jobs land between $6,000 and $30,000 in total.
§3Line-by-line comparison
| Item | Bid A | Bid B | Question if they differ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier system (push / helical) | Why this system for my soil? | ||
| Number of piers | Which walls, and why that count? | ||
| Spacing between piers | What load per pier was assumed? | ||
| Expected depth to bearing | What happens if refusal is deeper? | ||
| Price per pier | Does it include extensions? | ||
| Extra depth charge | Per foot or per section? | ||
| Engineer's report or stamped plan | Who pays, and is it before work? | ||
| Permit | Who pulls it? | ||
| Lift attempted vs stabilise only | What lift is realistic? | ||
| Warranty (length, transferable?) | What does it exclude? | ||
| Total |
§4Red flags
Sources used on this page
- USDA NRCS: Web Soil Survey — soil maps and Soil Data Explorer
- Colorado Geological Survey: SP-43 A Guide to Swelling Soils for Colorado Homebuyers and Homeowners — swelling soil as a geologic hazard