Tower, MN Cabin with Shifting Foundation
This block foundation has shifted over time, causing concern for the structural integrity of the cabin.
Wet Crawl Space in Tower, MN
This dirt crawl space has issues with accumulating water. As water evaporates, it can lead to wood rot of support beams.
Rocky, Sandy Soil Moves Throughout the Seasons
A common feature of northern Minnesota is sandy, rocky soil. As the ground freezes and thaws, it pushes and pulls the sediment with it. Overtime, this affects any home or cabin foundation.
Cabin Block Foundation Weakening
As foundation walls shift, they provide less support to the structure above. Here, a block has even been pushed out of place.
Main Beam Visibly Sinking in Tower, MN Crawl Space
Sinking support beams can weaken the structure and cause other symptoms like sticking doors and windows, sinking floors, cracks in the drywall, etc.
Main Beam Supported By Concrete
The most common way to support main beams beneath homes and cabins is with concrete columns, as seen in this photo. The problem with that is that concrete is a heavy and bound to settle over time.
Hydraulically Driven and Measured to Reach Weight-Bearing Soil
These helical piers are turned as they are driven into the ground, similar to a giant screw. The torque-capacity reading shows our crew once they reached weight-bearing soil.
Steel Piers Don't Add Weight
Adding our steel piers does not add more weight to the problem soil or crack under pressure.
Helical Pier with Tie-Back
Because this west wall is prone to moving outward, our team installed helical tie-backs to help the piers stay in place. The tie-backs work to stop lateral pressure from shifting soils and ground water.
Helical Piers Driven into the Ground in Tower, MN
This cabin is now fully supported with supplemental steel beams and piers that have been driven far below the soil's surface.
