Piering vs. Slabjacking: Which Foundation Repair Method Is Right for Your Home?

When your home's foundation begins to show signs of distress—from visible cracks and uneven floors to doors that won't close properly—you're faced with an important decision about repair methods. Two of the most common foundation repair solutions are piering and slabjacking, each designed to address different types of foundation problems with varying approaches, costs, and long-term outcomes.

At Christian Brothers Construction, we've been helping Twin Cities families make informed decisions about their foundation repair needs for over 15 years. Our comprehensive approach ensures you understand both the immediate fix and the long-term implications of each repair method, helping you choose the solution that best protects your investment.

Understanding Foundation Repair: The Basics

Foundation repair is really all about water management & structural integrity, and the method you choose depends largely on the underlying cause of your foundation problems. Poor soil conditions, faulty construction materials, or simply age can cause foundation problems. Foundations can shift over time, especially in soils with high clay content—a common issue throughout Minnesota.

Before diving into specific repair methods, it's crucial to understand that effective foundation repair requires identifying and addressing root causes, not just symptoms. As we always tell our customers, if you have water in your basement and the walls are leaking, it's never just about waterproofing your basement walls, you need a comprehensive assessment of the water and drainage management of your home.

What Is Foundation Piering?

Foundation piering, also known as underpinning, is a structural repair method that involves installing deep foundation supports beneath your existing foundation. Piling or piering is the technique of driving steel pipe pilings to remedy failing building foundations and to correct foundation settlement.

Types of Foundation Piers

Push Piers (Steel Resistance Piers): Push piers are designed and load-tested to stabilize a structure or correct foundation settlement. Foundation push piers, or steel resistance piers, push deep into the earth until they encounter the point of resistance, hence their names. Push piers are hydraulically driven pier systems consisting of sections of galvanized or epoxy-coated steel pipe. The piers are point bearing and driven with a hydraulic ram through unstable soils to rock or load bearing strata.

Helical Piers (Screw Piles): Helical piers use screw piles with steel shafts. The lead section, with one or more helixes attached, provides the needed bearing capacity. The piers are screwed into the ground with a hydraulic torque motor. Helical piers resemble giant screws twisted into the ground, stabilizing your home's foundation. These massive, high-strength, steel corkscrews are designed to reach the stable soil beneath areas causing your foundation issues.

How Piering Works

With either system, one or more steel piers are driven to rock or a suitable soil bearing layer and are connected to the foundation through a metal head assembly. Once a suitable bearing stratum is reached, each pile is tested to a force greater then required to support the structure. Hydraulic jacks attach to the embedded steel piers and are used to raise the foundation back to its original elevation.

When Piering Is Recommended

Piering is typically recommended when:

• Your home has significant structural settlement
• The foundation requires permanent stabilization
• Soil conditions are poor or unstable
• You need a long-term solution that addresses the root cause
• Water management issues have been resolved

What Is Slabjacking?

Slabjacking, also called mudjacking or concrete leveling, is a method used to lift and level concrete slabs that have settled or sunk. Slabjacking is a type of concrete lifting or leveling. Both of these terms refer to a process meant to return the slab to its original position.

Traditional Mudjacking vs. Modern Polyurethane Injection

Traditional Mudjacking: Mudjacking, often called slabjacking or pressure grouting, is a method that has been used for several decades. The mudjacking process involves injecting a mud-like mixture beneath the slab. The installer drills holes, typically about two inches in diameter, into your sunken concrete slab, and injects the mud-like mixture, often referred to as slurry.

Polyurethane Injection (Modern Slabjacking): Polyjacking is a concrete lifting technique that involves injecting high-density, structural-grade polyurethane foam to lift, level, and stabilize your concrete slabs. The process involves injecting the polyurethane foam beneath the concrete slabs through small ports, roughly the size of a penny. The foam itself starts as a liquid, but quickly expands and hardens to support the concrete.

How Slabjacking Works

Both techniques involve drilling holes into the slab and then injecting a material to fill the voids and lift the slab. The material fills empty spaces beneath the foundation and provides lift to return the slab to its proper level.

When Slabjacking Is Recommended

Slabjacking works best when:

• Settlement is relatively minor (typically less than 2 inches)
• The concrete slab is intact and structurally sound
• Soil conditions are stable
• You need a quick, cost-effective solution
• The underlying cause of settlement has been addressed

Piering vs. Slabjacking: Key Differences

Structural Approach

Piering: Addresses structural foundation problems by transferring the weight of your home to stable soil or bedrock deep underground. This method provides permanent support regardless of soil conditions near the surface.

Slabjacking: Fills voids under concrete slabs and provides lift, but doesn't fundamentally change how your foundation bears its load. The repair relies on the existing soil conditions improving or remaining stable.

Problem Severity

Piering: If your foundation needs long-term stabilization, piering is the best option, despite being more expensive. It's designed for significant structural issues, ongoing settlement, and situations where soil conditions cannot adequately support the foundation.

Slabjacking: The most affordable fixes include small crack repair or leveling with slabjacking. Best suited for minor to moderate settlement issues where the underlying soil can support the structure once voids are filled.

Longevity and Durability

Piering: Provides a permanent solution that typically lasts the lifetime of the structure. Foundation piers require minimal to no maintenance and are considered permanent repair solutions that should outlive the actual structure itself.

Slabjacking: Mudjacking repairs typically last only 2-5 years providing only a temporary solution in most cases, while modern polyurethane injection can last much longer but still may not address underlying soil issues.

Installation Process

Piering: More invasive installation requiring excavation around the foundation. Clean installation – Only a minimal amount of dirt needs to be excavated compared to other methods of foundation repair, but still requires more disruption than slabjacking.

Slabjacking: Polyurethane jacking requires smaller holes, typically 5/8 inch in diameter, which is about the size of a penny. Smaller injection holes result in less visible disruption to the concrete slab.

Cost Comparison: Investment vs. Value

Piering Costs

Each pier costs around $1,340 and repairs for an average-size home require 8 to 10 piers. This puts the cost for this method between $10,720 and $13,400. More recent estimates suggest piering might be your best bet. This method costs between $1,000 and $3,000 per pier.

Slabjacking Costs

On average, you'll pay $150 per drill hole, or 33% of the cost to replace the concrete slab. Expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $25 per square foot for polyurethane concrete lifting costs.

Long-term Cost Considerations

While piering requires a higher upfront investment, it often proves more cost-effective over time because:

• No repeat repairs are typically needed
• It addresses the root cause of foundation problems
• It can increase your home's value and marketability
• It prevents additional structural damage

Slabjacking offers lower upfront costs but may require future repairs if underlying issues aren't resolved, particularly with traditional mudjacking methods.

Minnesota-Specific Considerations

Minnesota's harsh climate creates unique challenges for foundation repair decisions:

Freeze-Thaw Cycles: Minnesota is notorious for its freeze and thaw cycle wreaking havoc on driveway aprons and foundations. This constant expansion and contraction can affect the longevity of certain repair methods.

Soil Conditions: Minnesota's varied soil conditions, including areas with high clay content, often make piering the more reliable long-term solution for significant foundation issues.

Water Management: Our experience shows that successful foundation repair in Minnesota requires comprehensive water management solutions, regardless of the repair method chosen.

The Christian Brothers Construction Advantage

Comprehensive Assessment First

Our first step is to assess the problem and systematically check all the possible culprits of the problem. We don't just look at symptoms—we identify root causes to ensure you get the right solution the first time.

Water Management Integration

The easiest and first step we will take is to make sure that your gutters and downspouts are doing everything possible to bring water away from your foundation. We understand that foundation repair success depends on proper drainage and water management.

Quality Materials and Techniques

We take pride in helping get to the root of problems & providing long-lasting solutions. Whether we recommend piering or slabjacking, we use proven materials and techniques designed for Minnesota's challenging climate.

Comprehensive Service Approach

Beyond foundation repair, we offer related services that work together for complete home protection:

• Basement waterproofing and foundation repair
• Drain tile installation and water management
• Concrete repair and replacement
• Masonry and chimney repair

Making the Right Choice for Your Home

Choose Piering When:

• Your home has significant, ongoing foundation settlement
• Soil conditions are poor or unstable
• You want a permanent, long-term solution
• Other methods have failed in the past
• You're dealing with structural foundation problems

Choose Slabjacking When:

• Settlement is minor and relatively recent
• The concrete slab is structurally sound
• Underlying drainage issues have been resolved
• You need a quicker, less invasive solution
• Budget constraints require a lower upfront investment

Professional Assessment Is Essential

Once we've completed our assessment of the property, we work with homeowners and insurance agents to create a scope of work that solves the problem within the appropriate budget. Every foundation situation is unique, and the right choice depends on multiple factors that require professional evaluation.

Why Experience Matters in Foundation Repair

Christian Brothers Construction has been helping Twin Cities families with their concrete, masonry, basement and driveway problems for over 15 years. Our experience has taught us that:

• Shortcuts don't work: The Minnesota climate is too harsh and extreme to avoid addressing the underlying problems
• Quality matters: We don't cut corners, we don't leave people hanging, and we make sure that problems are solved properly
• Comprehensive solutions last: Addressing just the symptoms without fixing root causes leads to repeated problems

External Resources for Further Research

For additional information about foundation repair methods and costs, consider these authoritative sources:

• Foundation Performance Association - Industry standards and best practices
• International Association of Certified Home Inspectors - Foundation inspection guidelines
• American Society of Civil Engineers - Structural engineering resources

Getting Started: Your Next Steps

Don't let foundation problems worsen while you decide between repair methods. Obviously, issues that have to do with your home's foundation should never be overlooked. These kind of problems can pose safety concerns or, at the very least, very expensive problems down the road.

Schedule Your Professional Assessment

Contact Christian Brothers Construction for a comprehensive foundation evaluation. Our experienced team will:

• Assess your specific foundation issues
• Evaluate soil and drainage conditions
• Explain your repair options clearly
• Provide honest recommendations based on your situation and budget
• Create a customized solution that addresses root causes

Why Choose Christian Brothers Construction?

• Local expertise: Over 15 years serving Twin Cities families
• Comprehensive approach: We address root causes, not just symptoms
• Quality commitment: We're here to deliver above expectation, fix it right the first time, and deliver excellent value with integrity
• Full-service solutions: From foundation repair to drainage systems and concrete work

Ready to protect your home's foundation with the right repair method? Visit our foundation repair page to learn more about our services and schedule your consultation. Let our experience guide you to the solution that will keep your foundation strong for years to come.