Drilled Bell Bottom Piers in Foundation Repair
What is a drilled bell-bottom pier?
One of the many methods we can use to repair your foundation is a drilled bell bottom pier. A drilled bell-bottom pier uses a vertical structure with a wide “bell” shape at the base to add support to a concrete slab foundation that is either sinking, heaving, or is otherwise compromised.
How a drilled bell-bottom pier is made
Bell-bottom piers are made on-site by digging a hole and drilling a shaft into the ground. A bell-shape is drilled at the very bottom of the shaft, creating an anchor that ensures the stability of the foundation under changing soil and climate conditions. Since drilled bell-bottom piers don’t depend on the moisture content of the soil, this is a reliable, long-lasting foundation repair method.
01
Soil Testing
We’ll begin by testing your soil at a depth of 15 feet to ensure that we’ve reached stable soil, also known as the load-bearing strata.
02
Manual Digging
The digging process must start manually at the surface. We’ll dig along your home’s foundation to reach a depth safe enough for motorized drilling.
03
Motorized Drilling
Using a two-person team, we’ll use a specialized drilling tool to create a shaft down to the stable soil beneath your home.
04
Digging of Bell Base
The bell-bottom base of the shaft is created using a “belling tool.” This tool features flanges that extend to remove dirt and pull it to the surface. The flanges dig wider than the original shaft, creating the bell shape that gives this method such great stability
05
Concrete
The bell-bottom and shaft are then filled with wet concrete and reinforced with steel rebar for added strength and durability. The concrete will be leveled at the top and left to cure.
Call your local foundation repair company!
Need foundation repair in East Texas? East Texas Slab Masters is a trusted foundation repair company based in Lufkin. We use the best and most reliable techniques such as drilled bell-bottom piers.
Call us today!