In Park City, Utah, the front deck of a home had settled enough to require structural support. The goal of this project was not to lift the deck substantially, but to stabilize it against further movement. To achieve this, the contractor installed four helical piers, each driven to a minimum pressure of 1500 psi. Depths varied between two and five feet, consistent with the graded mix of sand, silt, and rock typical of the soils in this area.
We observed the pier installation firsthand. Each pier was placed beneath existing deck columns, though the process was complicated by the condition of the posts, which showed severe weathering. Despite that challenge, all four piers were installed successfully, with the minimum required pressures achieved at each location. This confirms that the deck is now adequately supported with a reasonable factor of safety.
It is important to note that our review was limited to the pier installation itself. While the piers now provide the necessary foundation support, no evaluation was made of the long-term capacity of the weathered deck posts or other elements of the structure. The project has met its intended purpose, but ongoing maintenance of the deck framing will be essential moving forward.
