Don’t let poor soil slow your project down or bust the budget. Our variety of proven ground improvement methods transform unsuitable ground conditions into stable support for standard footings and slabs-on-grade, without the mess of excess spoil, costly disposal, or slow schedules. With over 4,000 successful projects across the Northeast, we deliver faster timelines and significant savings compared to over-excavation, soil replacement, or pile foundations.
Ground improvement can enhance soil strength and stability to support loads, reduce settlement, and increase bearing capacity. In the Northeast, it’s commonly used when fill, organic, or clay soils cannot support foundations without treatment.
Ground improvement works with existing unsuitable soils and added structural fill to create a modified subgrade for conventional footings and slabs-on-grade. In contrast, deep foundations bypass unsuitable soils, transferring loads to deeper bearing layers and are directly connected to a rigid foundation system with pile caps, grade beams, and structural slabs.
Helical Drilling offers a variety of proven ground improvement techniques, including:
• Geopier® Rammed Aggregate Pier® (RAP) Systems
• Geopier® GeoConcrete Column® (GCC) Rigid Inclusions
• Displacement Rigid Inclusions
• Drilled Rigid Inclusions
• Rapid Impact Compaction (RIC)
• Vibratory Probe Compaction (VPC)
• Compaction Grouting
• Jet Grouting
Ground improvement costs can vary widely- from less than $4/SF to greater than $30/SF depending on several factors such as soil conditions, load demand, proposed grading, job size, and site access.
Choosing the best ground improvement solution depends on meeting your project’s technical requirements quickly and cost-effectively. We consider key factors such as:
• Subsurface soil conditions (soil type, thickness, relative density, compressibility)
• Depth to competent soil
• Load demand from proposed features (footings, slabs, fills, embankments)
• Proposed grading
• Site size and accessibility
Once these details are defined, we assess technical feasibility and compare performance and cost. In some cases, multiple viable options exist, each with unique benefits and trade-offs, giving owners flexibility in decision-making.
Yes! Installation is generally unaffected by groundwater depth.
Not usually. Typically, our displacement installation methods eliminate the need for pre-augering (and associated excess spoil). In rare cases where existing soils are relatively dense, pre-augering may be necessary, and we confirm this during pre-construction planning.
Below is a checklist for ground improvement mobilization:
☑ Project team is alignment on final GI scope.
☑ Contract is fully executed.
☑ Submittal is approved.
☑ Preconstruction meeting is completed.
☑ Any remnant foundations and utilities have been removed/backfilled.
☑ Stable, dry, and free-draining Working Platform is prepared.
☑ Ground improvement element locations are surveyed.
☑ Water source is available and ready.
Fast! Not only is ground improvement cost-effective, but it can also reduce construction schedule compared to soil removal or deep foundations.
If a large obstruction, such as a buried tank, is encountered during installation, we continue work in other areas while the site contractor removes and backfills it. (This is a good example why preparing the entire site in advance helps avoid delays). If the obstruction is too deep to remove, we can add supplemental elements around it at a pre-established unit rate.
