Posted by Jonathan Maguire on Fri, Mar 19, 2010
In 2003 there were 20 helical or resistance pier manufacturers, 4 of them were considered “Major”. The top two companies were AB Chance and Atlas Systems (where we received our name). In 2009 there were over 50 manufactures of piers, with AB Chance topping the list followed by Earth Contact Products then Dixie, RamJack, DriveRite, etc.
As you can see, there has been a LOT of manufacturers enter into the business in the last few years. Many of these manufacturers are making helical and resistance piers from their own shop or “basement”. The top companies – and ones with the longest history have licensed engineers behind all their designs, a full fledged manufacturing facility, and quality control. The smaller guys are making a few piers - and while some of these 2nd tier or 3rd tier manufacturers may have engineers that help design, there is no way to compete with the larger companies in quality control, manufacturing and oversight. When you are supplying multiple thousands of piers (sometimes tens of thousands of piers), your quality has to be top notch. You cannot afford product failures, you cannot afford for a 3rd party engineer or inspector to question your products. There is just too much riding on them.
Why does this matter? Atlas Piers of Atlanta only purchases from platinum manufacturers. We have too much at stake to trust a lesser manufacturer. So when you have someone look at making foundation repairs to your structure ask which helical pier or resistance pier manufacturer they install. Piers may seem like a commodity, but there are vast differences.
Posted by Jonathan Maguire on Wed, Mar 10, 2010
This video shows the basic helical pier installation sequence for residential applications. Helical piers are used for foundation repair or for new construction in poor soils.
Atlas Piers of Atlanta installs new construction helical piers in Atlanta; we install residential and commercial helical piers for foundation repair in Atlanta, Georgia, and across the southeast. See our main page for more information (www.atlaspiers.com)
Posted by Jonathan Maguire on Wed, Mar 10, 2010
See the youtube video below for the typical helical tieback installation. There is a link below the video in case you cannot view from our blog.
Helical tiebacks (www.atlaspiers.com/products/) are great for bowing basement walls, retaining walls, shoring, etc. Give us a call if you think you have an application for this (such as bowing basement walls, horizontal crack in block walls, leaning walls, railroad tie wall failure, etc). If not, there may be an opportunity to use carbon fiber strips.
Helical Tieback installation video from AB Chance
Posted by Jonathan Maguire on Wed, Mar 10, 2010
Click the video below or check out the link to the youtube video at the bottom of the post. These show the process of installing a Resistance Pier for foundation repair. We have been installing resistance piers in Atlanta and across the Southeast for over 20 years. These are the strongest underpinning piers for residential foundation repair. Unfortunately, you cannot use them for every application. More to come on that later.
Atlas Resistance Pier Installation Video from AB Chance