Does Your Foundation Really Need to Be Replaced?
If your foundation is settling, cracking, or sinking, you may not need to tear everything out and start over. Helical pier installation is a proven method for stabilizing and lifting foundations — including sagging footings, cracked block walls, and settling slabs — without the cost and disruption of a full demolition and rebuild.
At Staats Masonry, we install PierTech™ helical pier systems for both foundation repair and new construction throughout Albany and the Capital Region. It’s a solution we stand behind because it works, and because local building departments are increasingly requiring deep foundation systems like this in new builds on challenging soils.
Helical Piers vs. Full Wall and Footing Replacement
Full replacement is a major undertaking. It means demolishing the existing wall, removing the footing, excavating down to undisturbed soil, forming and pouring new concrete, and rebuilding from scratch. Weeks of work and significant cost.
Helical piers accomplish the same core goal — transferring your foundation’s load to stable, deep soil — at a fraction of the disruption. The PierTech™ system uses galvanized steel construction and a patented Cross-Lock™ connection that is ICC-ES certified, so you’re getting a permanent solution, not a temporary fix. And unlike poured concrete work, helical piers can be installed in any season — which matters here in upstate New York.
For most homeowners dealing with a settling foundation, it’s the more practical and cost-effective path. That said, there are situations where full replacement is still the right answer, and we’ll be straight with you about which one you’re looking at before any work begins.
When You Need Helical Piers
Foundation footing has settled or dropped
Soil movement, poor drainage, and frost heave can all cause footings to shift over time — and when the footing goes, the wall follows.
Foundation wall is cracking
Cracks in block or poured concrete walls are often a symptom of an underlying footing problem, not just a surface issue to patch over.
Doors, windows, or floors are showing signs of movement
Sticking doors, windows that won’t close, uneven floors, and cracks in ceilings or interior walls can all point to a shifting foundation beneath the surface.
Your concrete slab is uneven or sinking
Settled slabs in garages, basements, or crawl spaces often signal soft or unstable soil that needs to be addressed at depth.
You're building new on poor soil
When soil conditions can’t support a standard footing, helical piers give new construction the deep foundation support it needs from day one.
Your building department is requiring it
More Capital Region municipalities are mandating deep foundation solutions on lots where conventional footings won’t perform long-term.
Client Testimonials
See what are happy clients in the Capital Region are saying about Staats Masonry LLC
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a masonry-related question? We have the answer. Check out these FAQs and give us a call today for more information!
What brand of helical piers do you use?
We install PierTech™ helical pier systems. PierTech manufactures both square shaft and round shaft piers, with the shaft type selected based on your specific soil and load conditions. Their systems are ICC-ES certified and built from high-grade steel with galvanized options available.
How deep do the piers go?
Typically around 20 feet, but actual depth depends on your soil. Installation continues until torque monitoring confirms the pier has reached soil with adequate bearing capacity — there’s no guesswork involved.
Will this fix my cracked foundation wall?
Piers stabilize and lift the footing, which relieves pressure on the wall and can close cracks and stop further movement. Depending on the extent of wall damage, additional masonry repair may be needed after pier installation — we’ll assess that upfront.
Is this being required for new construction now?
Increasingly, yes. Local building departments across the Capital Region are requiring deep foundation solutions on new builds where soil conditions can’t reliably support conventional footings.
How long does installation take?
Most residential helical pier installations are completed in one to two days, depending on the number of piers required and site conditions.
We Install Helical Piers Throughout The Capital District & Surrounding Areas
We install PierTech™ helical pier systems throughout Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and the surrounding Capital Region. If your foundation is cracking, settling, or showing signs of movement, give us a call — we’ll come take a look and tell you straight what you’re dealing with.
Call or text to schedule a free estimate.
Albany County, NY
Rensselaer County, NY
Greene County, NY
Columbia County, NY
Albany, NY
Selkirk, NY
East Greenbush, NY
Rensselaer, NY
Kinderhook, NY
Hudson, NY
