Helical Pier Installation to Support a Settling Home Addition in Duluth, MN
For one homeowner in Duluth, Minnesota, purchasing a foreclosed property was an opportunity to turn a house into a home. Before moving in, however, they wanted to address several concerns with the property’s foundation and crawl space. One of the most noticeable issues was a settling addition, where a corner had dropped approximately 1.5 inches. Hoping to stabilize the structure and improve the alignment of the doors and windows, the homeowner contacted DBS Residential Solutions for help.
Addressing Foundation Settlement Before Moving In
As the homeowner prepared to renovate the property, they wanted to make sure the home’s structural concerns were addressed before completing additional improvements.
The settling addition was a particular priority. When one section of a structure begins to settle, it can create uneven floors, misaligned doors and windows, and noticeable differences in elevation between connected areas.
In this case, the homeowner hoped that lifting and supporting the affected corner would improve the alignment of the addition and allow the doors and windows to function properly.
The project also included plans to address moisture concerns in the basement and improve the crawl space with CleanSpace® encapsulation and spray foam insulation.
Before those improvements could move forward, however, DBS needed to address the settling foundation.
Planning a Helical Pier Installation
After evaluating the property, DBS recommended installing a helical pier to support the affected corner of the addition.
Helical piers are deep foundation support systems designed to transfer structural loads to more stable soil or suitable load-bearing material below the surface. They can be particularly useful for addressing settlement in areas where the existing foundation is no longer adequately supporting a structure.
The installation required careful planning because rock was visible near the work area. Depending on the underground conditions, the rock could limit how deeply the pier could be installed.
The team also needed to account for the sequence of repairs. Because lifting the settling corner could change the position of the structure, the pier installation needed to take place before the planned crawl space encapsulation.
Installing the Helical Pier
DBS Foreman Nathan Simonson and his crew began by removing an existing concrete form tube, commonly called a Sonotube, to access the area beneath the affected corner.
The crew then installed a helical pier, advancing it approximately 10 feet into the ground until reaching torque refusal, meaning the pier could not be advanced farther under the installation conditions.
Once the pier was installed, the team began carefully attempting to lift the settling section.
Lifting a settled structure requires close attention to how different areas respond. In this case, the crew found that the entire porch began lifting as they worked to raise the affected corner.
Rather than continuing to lift without considering the impact on the surrounding structure, the team made adjustments and monitored how the addition responded.
Adjusting the Lift and Improving Door and Window Function
The DBS crew achieved approximately 1.5 inches of lift during the installation. However, the corner of the room remained approximately 2 inches lower than the side connected to the main house.
Although the lift did not completely eliminate the elevation difference, the crew continued making adjustments to improve the functionality of the space.
According to the foreman’s installation notes, the team worked through the alignment challenges until the doors and windows were functioning properly again.
This was an important part of the homeowner’s original goal. While complete leveling is not always possible during foundation lifting, providing structural support and improving the operation of affected doors and windows can be meaningful outcomes.
The installation provided support to the settling corner while addressing some of the functional issues associated with the uneven addition.
Foundation Settlement Repair in Duluth, MN
For this Duluth homeowner, addressing the settling addition was an important step in preparing their recently purchased property for future improvements.
With the helical pier installed and the doors and windows functioning again, the homeowner could move forward with their renovation plans knowing that the affected corner had received additional foundation support.
DBS Residential Solutions helps homeowners throughout Duluth and northern Minnesota address foundation settlement, uneven floors, and structural support concerns. Whether you’re renovating an older home or noticing signs of foundation movement, our team can evaluate the situation and recommend solutions suited to your property.
