Pros and Cons of Different Foundation Types

Foundation Type
Geologic, Subsurface,
and Site Conditions

Spread Footing

Concrete Caisson

Driven Pile

Magnum Helix

Dry to Moist Sand, No Geologic

Hazards

Cost Effective

More Costly Than a Footing

Foundation, May Require Cassing
to Prevent Caving of Holes, Drill
Spoil Must Be Handled

More Costly Than a Footing

Foundation, Low Capacity for the
Cost

More Costly Than a Footing

Foundation

Cost Effective

Requires Casing to Prevent

Caving, Requires Concrete Pump
Truck to Displace Water, Costly
and Slow Installation Process

High Mobilization Cost, Not

Practical for Small Structures,
Subject to Corrosion

More Costly Than a Footing

Foundation

High Mobilization Cost, Not

Practical for Small Structures,
Subject to Corrosion, Pile Driving
Equipment Can Not Enter
Foundation Excavation during
Unfavorable Weather

Supports from below Depth of

Seasonal Moisture Content
Changes, High Quality of a
Manufactured Foundation, All
Weather Installation, Corrosion
Resistant Galvanization

Sand Soils, High Groundwater,

No Geologic Hazards

Very Plastic Clay Soils, High

Groundwater, No Geologic
Hazards

Wet Fine Sand or Silt in

Earthquake Risk Area

Uncompacted Fill or Soft Soils

Over Stable Bearing Stratum

Requires Casing and Dewatering

14 to 28 Day Concrete Curing
Using Mud Bucket, Costly and
Time, Subject to Movement Due to
Slow Installation Process, Drilling
Expansion and Contraction of
Equipment Can Not Enter
Clays with Seasonal Changes in
Foundation Excavation during
Moisture Content
Unfavorable Weather
Subject to Liquefaction and
Settlement during Earthquake,
Risk of Damage to Structure

Subject to Settlement, Risk of

Damage to Structure

High Slenderness Ratio Promotes

Difficult to Install, May Require
Subject to Pullout During Large
Dampening of Motion During
Concrete Pump Truck to Displace
Earthquake Events, High
Earthquake, Reduced Damage to
Water, Poor Slenderness Ratio,
Mobilization Cost, Not Practical for
Structure, Helical Blades Resist
Transmits Large Accelerations to
Small Structures
Pullout
Structure
May be Costly if Caving Soils or
Ground Water Problems are
Present, 14 to 28 Day Concrete
Curing Time, Drilling Equipment
May be Unable to Enter
Foundation Excavation during
Unfavorable Weather

Requires Large Equipment to

No Delays, No Curing Time, Cost
Install, High Mobilization Cost, Pile
Effective when Time Savings are
Driving Equipment May be Unable
Considered, All Weather
to Enter Foundation Excavation
Installation
during Unfavorable Weather

Cost Effective, Subject to Same

Expansive Clays Over Stable

Ground Water and Unfavorable
Subject to Heave, Risk of Damage
Weather Problems as Above
Bearing Stratum in Semi-Arid
to Structure
although Less Likely in Semi-Arid
Climate

Same as Above

Same as Above plus Small Shaft

Circumference Results in
Decreased Heave Forces on
Foundation, Efficient Anchoring
Design

Noise and Vibrations Adversely

Affect Nearby Existing Structures,
Limited Access may make
Installation Difficult

Smaller, More Maneuverable

Installation Equipment, Easy to
Install Very Close to Existing
Structures

Climate

Building Site Near Existing

Structures, Limited Access

Unstable Soils over Very Hard

Bedrock

Contaminated Soils

Structure with Heavy Lateral

Loads

Temporary Application on
Remote Site

Limited Geotechnical
Information Available

Cost Effective if Practical

Limited Access may make

Installation Difficult, Hard to Get
Very Near Existing Structures

Subject to Movement, Risk of

Damage to Structure

Often Practical Although May

Require Rock Core Barrel to
Achieve Minimum Penetration

Cost Effective if Practical

Drill Spoil Must Be Hauled and

Disposed, Environmental Hazard
Equipment may be Necessary for
Construction Personnel

Often Practical to Bottom at

Often Practical Although May Be
Surface of Bedrock, Very Hard
Difficult to Install if Bedrock is Very Bedrock with Standard Penetration
Shallow or Very Deep
Blow Count Greater Than 50 blows
/ 6 inches may Cause Refusal
Eliminates Drill Spoil, May be
Practical on Large Structures
although More Expensive than
Footings

Eliminates Drill Spoil, Practical on

All Size Structures although More
Expensive than Footings

Lateral Load Resistance is Limited Lateral Load Resistance is Limited

By Friction Under Footing and
By Size and Rigidity of Caisson
Heavy Lateral Loads Can Be
Heavy Lateral Loads Can Be
Passive
and Passive
Resisted by Pile Installation At
Resisted by Helix Foundation
Earth Pressure Along
Earth Pressure Along
Batter Angle
Installation At Batter Angle
Foundation Wall
Foundation Wall
Impractical to Remove, Not ReUseable, Requires Concrete be Difficult to Remove, Requires More Easily Removed and Re-Used,
Removable but Impractical to ReMaterial than Helix Piers, Very
Requires No Concrete, Light and
Transported to Site, Usually
Use, Requires Concrete be
Heavy Installation Equipment with
Maneuverable Installation
Requires Heavy Installation
Transported to Site
Low Maneuverability
Equipment
Equipment with Low
Maneuverability
Highest Risk Alternative, Least
Impractical to Design without
Pile Driving Resistance Provides
Installation Torque Provides
Resistant to Movement caused by
Sufficient Geotechnical Information Indication of Soil Bearing Strength Indication of Soil Bearing Strength
Unknown Conditions