Introduction

Few things can make your blood run cold quicker than discovering foundation problems in your home, cottage, or other structure. Unfortunately, here in Winnipeg, our harsh climate and challenging soil conditions are prone to causing all kinds of foundation headaches.
Maybe you've noticed cracks in your walls, doors that won't close properly, uneven floors, or sinking areas. These symptoms won't go away on their own, and in fact will only get worse if left unchecked. But, what should you actually do when foundation problems strike?
First, take a deep breath and try not to stress. While this may seem like a worst-case scenario, there's good news! Not only are most foundation problems fixable, it can be done faster and more economically than you might imagine at first.
Helical piles offer a swift, reliable, and permanent, solution for your foundation issues. They can strengthen, re-support, or even entirely replace, your existing foundation without the mess or disruption of other options. In fact, our team at Glawson Piling have used them to restore all kinds of structures - from detached homes to a McDonald's restaurant.
In this easy-to-read guide, you’ll uncover:

Whether you need to underpin a struggling structure, reinforce your building to support renovations, or entirely replace a foundation, helical piles could be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Common Foundation Problems in Winnipeg & Their Signs

Windows or doors that won't operate properly, cracks in your walls, and uneven floors, could be signs of foundation problems

Three Signs of Foundation Problems

Generally speaking, there's a few areas you can look to when determining if you may have lurking foundation problems. Of course, the best way to 100% confirm whether this is the case, is to have a qualified person perform an inspection.
But, if you'd like to do some investigation yourself, here's three key things you should look for:

1: Windows & Doors That Won't Close Properly

Do you have doors that drag across the floor when you use them? Is the door latch misaligned so it won't engage when closed? Have you noticed gaps along the top, sides, or bottom?

While this can occur due to problems with the hinge or frame, it may also indicate the floor or walls themselves have shifted.

The same goes for windows that seem to "stick" or won't fully close. You may even feel a slight breeze coming through around the frame. Again, this could mean there's a problem with the window itself. But if you're seeing this on multiple windows, you might have a shifting in the walls.
Walls and floors won't typically shift like this on their own - it originates from movement in your foundation which creates a "knock on" effect throughout the building.

2: Cracks in Walls and Ceilings

Are you seeing cracks that extend across the length of your walls or ceiling? They may not be very wide, but can signal deeper issues are brewing. Again, we don't want to scare you into thinking every crack has a serious cause. A hairline vertical crack, for example, may appear as a result of normal settlement.

However, if you're noticing diagonal or horizontal cracks (especially in your basement or crawlspace), it could warrant closer investigation. Particularly if you also have other problems like sticking doors or windows. Vertical cracks that are wider than 1/8" are also worth looking into.

3: Uneven Floors

This symptom can be a little difficult to detect at first, as the difference between the "high" and "low" areas might be slight. Here's some ways to tell if your floors have become uneven:

Now, does this mean you definitely have a foundation problem? Not necessarily.
Uneven floors can also be caused by issues with the subfloor or joists. However, if you're noticing multiple symptoms at the same time then the foundation might be to blame. It's like being a detective - you're trying to look at where the evidence is pointing.
If you've found several indications of potential foundation issues, it's a good idea to get in touch with a foundation inspector who can confirm them for you. At Glawson Piling, we have great relationships with several reliable foundation inspectors in Winnipeg. Give us a call, and we'd be happy to put you in touch with them.

Why Do Foundation Issues Occur in Winnipeg and Area?

Thousands of years ago, most of Manitoba was covered with an immense glacial lake known as "Lake Agassiz". This titanic ice sheet covered most of North America, and as it began to melt it left a sprawling freshwater lake behind.
Lake Aggasiz would eventually drain into the Hudson Bay, leaving behind the Lakes of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Winnipegosis, and Lake of the Woods.

While Lake Agassiz wouldn't have been this large at any one time, this map shows just how much land it covered over the course of its life

The other relic we have of this ancient lake is our soil, which is rich in clay and silts. This makes it ideal for productive farmland, but it's a two-edged sword. These qualities that make for great growing conditions, also make for challenging building conditions.
In short, here's the main problem:
As our clay soils become saturated with water, the individual particles expand and cause it to swell. When the moisture leaves the soil, those particles shrink. This is known as expansive soils, and they're quite prevalent across the province - especially in the Winnipeg area.

As the soil dries out, clay particles release trapped water and shrink. When moisture returns, those particles will swell as they absorb water. This causes the soil to move - sometimes quite significantly.

During the seasonal changes, our soils tend to swell as they freeze then shrink during the spring thaw. This is why you might notice "new" rocks protruding from the ground after the snow melts; they've been pushed upwards by soil expansion.
Unfortunately, this also means that your foundation is subject to those same forces during seasonal changes or fluctuations in ground water levels. It can affect everything from the concrete piers under your deck to the basement beneath your home.
A common consequence of our expansive soils is the heaving, or lifting, of your foundation. The Colorado Geological Survey found these soils can exert up to 30,000 pounds-per-square-foot of pressure, causing significant problems.
So, what's the fix? If your foundation has suffered damage, how can you both repair it and protect against future issues?
This is where helical piles come in, offering a streamlined solution for repairing (or replacing) all types of foundations - from slab-on-grade to full basements.

What Are Helical Piles & How Do They Work?

Helical pile foundations are widely used to support all kinds of new structures, but they're also able to repair foundations on existing buildings.

Helical piles are a type of deep foundation technology first invented in the 1830's. Their original use-case was primarily to support lighthouses, bridges, and piers. In the eastern United States, you can find lighthouses over 150 years old that still stand on their original helical foundation.
These days our access to modern construction equipment has turned helical piles into a multi-purpose foundation, capable of holding everything from small decks to entire apartment buildings.
If you ever visit Richmond St. in London, Ontario, for example, you'd see the One Richmond Row building. This 32-storey apartment high rise was built on more than 500 helical piles, an impressive proof of their versatility and strength.
Of course, we're not talking about building apartments here. You're interested in how a helical pile can save a failing foundation! In order to understand that, we need to take a brief look at what they're all about.

Design of a Helical Pile

There are many different pile caps which go on-top of the helical pile. Pictured here is one type of bracket commonly used for foundation repair.

The basic design of a helical pile is simple:

Now, you might be thinking that a helical pile doesn't exactly look like a foundation which can hold significant amounts of weight. How can you expect it to hold thousands of pounds?

How a Helical Pile Works

It all comes down to the unique way a helical pile works:

That's why a helical pile can hold tons (literally) of weight, even though it may not look like it. The helix plate creates a large surface area for the soil to exert pressure on, thereby giving a pile its load capacity.

Helical Piles & Expansive Soils

Embedding the helix plate in an unmoving soil layer prevents a helical pile from being pushed up, or sinking down, when the soil undergoes expansion.

Alright, so you might be thinking this sounds great and everything... but what makes a helical pile a solid solution in Winnipeg's expansive soils? And is it better than other options like poured concrete piers?
First, let's talk about how a helical pile handles expansive soils - particularly during our harsh freeze/thaw cycles.
Remember that a helical pile has a relatively narrow central shaft, with a comparatively larger helix plate attached to it. The helix plate provides a lot of surface area for the soil to press on, serving to anchor it in-place.
However, the narrower pile shaft doesn't have as much surface area. That means as the soil moves, it can't exert the same pressure on the shaft. This prevents the pile from being forced up as the soil swells, or sinking down when it shrinks.
There's quite a bit more science that goes into how a helical pile overcomes expansive soils, but you get the idea. The very nature of its design is far more resistant to moving due to soil expansion or shifting.
Okay, that's enough of theoretical talk - let's get into the real-world application of using helical piles to repair, re-support, or replace, your foundation!

Foundation Repair With Helical Piles (How Does it Work?)

The first thing you should know about using helical piles to repair an existing foundation, is that it will require a different approach depending on the situation.
Minor issues localized in one specific area of your foundation, for example, are going to be handled differently than a house which has widespread problems.

An easy way to break this down is by organizing foundation repair into three main categories: underpinning, re-support, and replacement. Let's take a look at these one-by-one...

Helical Pile Underpinning

Here, a helical pile is being installed to underpin the basement of a home which had experienced foundation cracking and weakening.

Underpinning a structure is when we install helical piles underneath your existing foundation. Those piles are then connected to your foundation using a special pile cap, allowing structural loads to be transferred into the pile.

Your original foundation stays in-place and continues to play a role in the structural integrity of your home. Underpinning isn't about replacing your foundation, it's about giving it the extra strength and stability it needs to stop moving.

Here's a hypothetical situation where this could be a good approach:

Let's pretend you've had some soil erosion under a portion of your foundation which has caused it to weaken and sink. It hasn't experienced total failure, but it does need additional support to restore stability.
Helical piles can transfer loads from that weakened and eroded section, down into firm soil layers.

The process itself is straightforward:

Helical Pile Re-Support

Another situation where you might need some "shoring-up" of your current foundation, is if you're planning to perform extensive renovations that will add greater structural loads.

Let's say you're thinking of building a new bathroom in your house. Since things like toilets, vanities, bathtubs, and showers, are heavy, you want to make sure your structure can handle it.

In this case, our team could install helical piles inside your house to strengthen the floor and ensure you won't run into issues with the new bathroom. We're even able to put helical piles through the floor, whether in the basement or main level, to achieve this.

And it's not just about renovations to your home, either. This same concept applies to barns, garages, retail buildings, and anywhere else you need added strength for new equipment or structures.

Helical Pile Foundation Replacement

In situations where the foundation of an existing structure is severely degraded or completely failed, it may need to be entirely replaced. This involves more time, work, and cost, than underpinning. That said, with a helical pile solution, it's still faster and cleaner than other options!
The most common approach is to disconnect the structure from its existing foundation, and have the building raised onto temporary blocks. Our team can then maneuver a machine underneath the building and install a completely new helical foundation.

Once the piles are installed and ready, the structure can be lowered down onto them and secured. The old foundation no longer provides any support, all structural loads rest directly on the helical piles.

While this is more involved than underpinning or re-supporting, it's able to entirely restore the structural integrity of your building.

Benefits of Using Helical Piles for Foundation Repair

Frequently Asked Questions About Repairing a Foundation With Helical Piles

Foundation Repair in Winnipeg Can Be A Smooth & Easy Process

Foundation problems can feel overwhelming, urgent, and stressful. It’s natural to feel concerned or worried when you notice cracked walls, sticking doors, or sloping floors. But as we’ve shown in this guide, you can enjoy a permanent fix and regain your peace of mind.
Helical piles offer proven strength and reliability that will restore the stability of your home, garage, or other structure. Their quick installation, superior strength, and resistance to our challenging soils, have made them a go-to solution for homeowners and professionals alike.
In simple terms, this means they're an ideal option for foundation repair in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba. Whether you need to reinforce a basement, support a renovation, or completely replace a failing foundation, they'll deliver a permanent and lasting result.
So, what's the easiest way to get started in restoring the strength and reliability of your foundation? Not to sound self-serving, but we believe a great first step is to get in touch with our friendly team here at Glawson Piling!
We've tackled everything from minor repairs to major foundation overhauls in Winnipeg and area. Our approach is guided by careful assessments, precise plans, trustworthy service, and a commitment to delivering lasting results.
If you’re ready to learn more about how helical piles can solve your foundation challenges, give us a call or send a message via the contact form below. We’re here to provide expert advice, answer your questions, and guide you toward a fix that lets you move forward worry-free!