Steel push piers: using the weight of your house to fix it
Steel push piers are steel tubes driven deep into the ground under your foundation. The weight of the house pushes them down until they hit firm soil or rock.
When the soil under a house settles, the foundation goes down with it. A steel push pier moves the weight of the house off that soil and onto firm ground deep below.
You may also see them called steel piers, resistance piers or underpinning piers. They are all the same idea.
How they work
The usual steps
- Dig down to the footing The crew opens a hole at each pier spot along the wall.
- Bolt a steel bracket to the footing The bracket is what the ram pushes against.
- Drive the pier with a hydraulic ram Short steel tubes are pushed down one after another. The house is the weight the ram pushes against.
- Stop at firm soil or rock When the pier will not go deeper, it has hit a layer that can carry the load.
- Move the load onto the piers The piers now carry that part of the house. Some jobs lift it back toward level at this step.
Because each pier is pushed with the weight of the building, every pier is load tested as it goes in.
When push piers are not the right pick
| Situation | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A light building, porch or addition | There may not be enough weight to drive the pier. Helical piers are often used instead. |
| New building | There is no house on top yet to push against. |
| The real problem is water | If poor drainage is moving the soil, fix the water too, or the trouble can come back. |
What they cost
HomeAdvisor puts piering or underpinning at $1,000 to $3,000 per pier. For comparison, HomeGuide puts helical piers at $2,000 to $4,000 per pier, and says a typical home often needs 5 to 10 piers. The real count depends on how much of the house has moved.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask the contractor
- Is my house heavy enough for push piers? A good contractor will tell you if helical piers fit better.
- Is an engineer and a permit part of this? Many cities need both for pier work.
- What happens to my drywall and tile if you lift? Lifting can open new cracks. Know who pays for that.
- Does the warranty transfer to a new owner? Buyers and their inspectors will ask.
Get a foundation contractor to look at it
Tell us your city and what you see. We match you with local foundation repair contractors, and you make the calls yourself.
Get matched with a foundation pro Price your pier jobSources
HomeAdvisor, "Foundation repair cost" (Jun 20, 2026): homeadvisor.com. HomeGuide, "Helical piers cost" (Feb 6, 2026): homeguide.com.
Questions homeowners actually ask
What are steel push piers?
Steel tubes driven deep under a foundation with a hydraulic ram, using the weight of the house, until they reach firm soil or rock. The house then rests on them.
How much do push piers cost?
HomeAdvisor lists piering at $1,000 to $3,000 per pier. The total depends on how many piers your house needs.
Are steel piers the same as push piers?
Usually, yes. "Steel piers", "push piers" and "resistance piers" are the same system. Helical piers are also steel, but they are screwed in, not pushed.
Can push piers be used on a light building?
Often not. The pier is driven by the weight of the building, so a light structure may not push it deep enough. Helical piers are the usual choice there.