Design-Build Foundation Systems
Specialty Foundation System’s refined methods and modern equipment allow for a quick design turn around, rapid mobilization, and an efficient project execution. Our design and construction team have over 50 years of combined experience and been a part of over 1,000 projects across the United States. Give us a call today to see if our value engineering can provide your project with cost savings!
Drill & fill Aggregate Piers
A traditional soil-replacement method where piers are built with well-graded crushed aggregate using a high-energy, low frequency (non-vibratory) vertical ramming tool. This creates extremely dense aggregate pier elements that can be used for foundation support (footing, slab, fill, embankments, etc.), reinforce for liquefaction, and slope stabilization/global stability. Ideal sites for aggregate pier applications have:
- Clay, silt, clayey sand, silty sand, soft or loose soils
- Compressible soils
- Undocumented fill
- Nearby sensitive or occupied buildings
- Soils where open hole drilling can be achieved without casing sleeves
Displacement Vibratory Aggregate Piers
A dry bottom-feed vibratory displacement method where a mandrel is driven into the ground and the piers are built using open-graded stone. Installation increases the soil density, strength and stiffness as well as increasing the bearing capacity and reducing compressibility. Ideal sites for vibratory pier applications have:
- Loose sand and silts sites with high groundwater
- Liquefiable sites with seismic settlement
- contaminated soil sites (no spoils produced during production)
- Soils where open hole drilling cannot be achieved without casing sleeves
- Improvement depths in excess of 20' are required
Helical Piles
A tried-and-true foundation support system consisting of a central shaft with a series of helices which are screwed into a competent bearing stratum. These helical piles range in diameter from 1 ½” Round Corner Square shaft piles used on lightly loaded structures to over 10” Round Shaft piles seen on projects with heavy axial or lateral loads. Installation equipment is mobile and able to work on limited access sites with minimal site impact. They do not generate spoils, can be loaded immediately, and torque monitoring means testing of every pile in real-time. Ideal sites for helical piles are:
- Compressible soils
- Expansive soils
- Nearby sensitive or occupied buildings
- Caving soils where open hole drilling is not cost effective
Drilling Services
We provide drilling services for a variety of applications as well as diameters. Some of them include:
- Drilled concrete piers
- Lighting pole bases
- Sign pole bases
- Dewatering points
- 12"-72" Diameter